Trees are tough. There are many forests in the United States that have withstood centuries of hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters.
But this doesn’t mean trees are invincible. It’s important to keep an eye out for the health of the trees surrounding your home.
When a tree is dying, it presents a major safety hazard for you and the wildlife living in your yard. Here are 5 clear signs that your tree is dying.
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Visible Pests
If you notice carpenter ants or bark beetles on or around your tree, it might be a sign your tree is dying. These pests love to live in dying trees because the tree’s burrows provide lots of places to nest.
The ‘burrows’ are caused by the tree dying inside. They can eat through weakened trees much easier than strong trees.
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Brittle Bark
Does the bark on the tree look dark and brittle? Sometimes you can eyeball a dying tree if you notice a major change in the texture of its bark.
Deep cracks that appear vertically along the trunk is a sign the tree is dying. You might also notice bark falling off the tree as a result of the disease.
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Dead Wood
Have you noticed lots of branches in your yard lately? All trees shed some limbs from time to time, especially during certain seasons.
But if you’re seeing large branches and limbs from your tree on the ground around your yard it’s a sign your tree is dying. Survey the limbs on your trees for signs of decay.
If the tree is large, tread carefully near branches you suspect are dying. They can fall at any moment making them a serious safety hazard in your yard.
Consider hiring an arborist using this site to cut away the dead branches if the trunk of the tree is still salvageable.
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Damaged Roots
Roots extend deep into the ground so you can’t always tell a tree is dying just by looking at them. Sometimes after there’s been an excavation nearby you might notice some changes in the health of your tree.
This happens because the construction or drilling team damages the roots of the tree. If any part of the root system is exposed, you can simply look at the details of the roots to see whether damage has occurred.
Look for changes in and around the roots. Around the roots, you want to check for poor soil compaction which is a sign the roots aren’t getting proper nutrients.
Root damage will result in poor growth each year. You might notice yellowing in the leaves or thinning foliage altogether.
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No Healthy Leaves
The absence of leaves on your deciduous trees can mean the tree is dying. You need to know the species of the tree to help you determine whether the amount of foliage you have makes sense.
If the tree was full but then suddenly lost all of its leaves, it’s probably a sign your tree is dying.
What If Your Tree is Dying?
If your tree is dying, it’s a threat to the structure of your home and the safety of everyone inside. Dying trees are the first to fall when a big storm hits.
Make sure you take care of these trees right away by scheduling a consultation with an arborist. For more information and tips, visit our blog for updates.
