One of the most effective ways to help trees recover from disease is to spot ailments early. This allows arborists to administer treatment before the problem has time to wreak irreversible havoc. But as you may expect, the signs of tree disease are a bit more challenging to spot during the initial stages.
Below are a few tips to help you spot warning signs early from T&T Tree Service, offering expert tree services in Newtown, PA.
Examine the Leaves for Signs of Distress
If you want to identify a disease before it significantly impacts trees, you need to know the earliest symptoms of common tree diseases. Many ailments affect the leaves before other areas of the plant.
You may notice any of the following leaf issues as an initial warning sign:
- Leaf discoloration, such as yellow, brown, or rust-colored hues outside of autumn
- Wilting leaves that eventually turn brown and drop
- Dark spots or blemishes that turn into holes
If you start noticing leaves on the ground at irregular times of the year or notice that certain sections of the canopy appear discolored compared to the rest, this could mean the tree is suffering.
Learn What Healthy Bark Looks Like
Healthy, normal bark maintains these qualities:
- Strong, not crumbling or peeling
- Free from large cracks
- Dry, not soft and wet
If your tree’s bark does not match any of these identifiers, it may be exhibiting symptoms of disease.
Common bark-related signs of tree disease include:
- Fungal growth, which can appear green or white
- Bark cracking and splitting
- Canker formations, which are sores that are sunken and dark
Bark helps trees store water, protects them from the environment, and keeps out pests and bacteria. When this essential shield starts to suffer, the rest of the plant can succumb more quickly.
Watch for Abnormal Growth Patterns
Trees usually follow a predictable growth process. They start by adding height and length, then begin thickening the branches and stems once they are mature. If an adult tree on your property suddenly begins growing new shoots near the base, or a young one stops growing as fast as you would expect, it could be struggling with a disease.
An arborist can help you determine whether the growth patterns are concerning and, if so, implement remedies to support healthy development.
Schedule Plant Healthcare Services Annually
In the busyness of daily life, you may not notice that a tree on your property is exhibiting strange growth patterns or dropping leaves. That’s why it’s important to schedule plant healthcare services with professional arborists regularly.
Arborists can spot minute signs of tree disease you may overlook and then administer treatment before the ailment spreads. They can even take measures to prevent infections altogether.
At T&T Tree Service, we offer comprehensive plant healthcare to prevent and treat a wide range of diseases. Contact us today at 609-397-2700 to schedule a free estimate in Newtown, PA. Then learn the answer to “Does pruning dead branches help trees?”
