Trees make for beautiful landscaping and scenery, but only if they are healthy. Trees that have been affected by disease, on the other hand, are not only an eyesore but also incredibly unhealthy to have around. If you suspect that a tree in your yard has a disease, you need to get a professional tree care and tree removal service to handle the job. But how do you know when to call them? You look out for the seven most common signs of tree disease, which we will detail below.
These symptoms of disease are characteristic of the most common types of tree diseases. Other, rarer diseases may present different symptoms that could still concern you. If any tree on your property has any of these symptoms or other visual symptoms that don’t look quite right, disease is quite likely.
If the leaves on your tree have orange or reddish coloration in spots, and it isn’t autumn, this could indicate disease affecting the pigmentation of the leaves. Sometimes the coloration won’t be rust-colored at all, but that doesn’t mean that the tree is free of disease.
If the tree looks like it’s been blighted by fire, even though it’s never been in a fire, disease is quite a realistic possibility.
If touching the leaves of the tree leave a dusty or powdery feeling on your hands, the tree is affected by mildew – a common indication of disease.
There is a specific form of fungus that you can identify by looking at the trunks and branches of fully matured trees. Fungus is a near-guaranteed indication of tree disease.
Otherwise known as “canker,” white growths can form along the trunk of a tree.
When broom-like branches and twigs sprout out from the trunk of a tree, this is called witch’s broom.
This invasive species will emerge to feed on the leaves of diseased trees, so their presence is essentially a harbinger of bad things to come for your tree. You can identify these little buggers by looking for their brown thorax.
If any of your trees are displaying these symptoms of tree disease, it is time to call in the help of professional tree care and tree removal specialists. They will be able to assess the condition of the tree, inform you of any dangers that nearby trees could be exposed to as a result of the diseased tree, and recommend removal when appropriate. Sometimes removal is necessary, but there are instances where treatment can save the life of the tree.