Trees are living things, so that means that they can become “sick” like people and animals can. A disease or other tree issue may take a while to show itself because of the overall size of the tree, and once you see a symptom, it could be too late to restore the tree.
A certified arborist from RI Tree Trimming can diagnose and treat common tree problems so that there is a much greater chance of saving the tree. Learn about our service here. Not only can an experienced arborist help to keep a tree from dying, but they can also help trees get more healthy growth and bloom more flowers or fruit with professional tree trimming.
Have you noticed a tree on your lawn that has always seemed OK but all of the sudden seems like something is wrong? In the next paragraphs, we’ll explain some of the most typical tree problems and what these symptoms mean.
If you see any of these things, act fast to have the best chance of saving the tree and the ones around it.
Tree Diseases & Common Problems
These 7 things are the most common issues encountered by experienced arborists in Rhode Island. The moment you think one of these things could be wrong with your tree, reach out to someone with the training and tools to help!
Tree Diseases
Leaf Rust – Leaf rust is actually a fungus that is very common in both plants and trees. The name comes from the brown and yellow spots this disease creates on the leaves.
Leaf rust is bad because it inhibits the leaves’ photosynthesis, the process by which it breathes. Leaf rust can be tended to with fungicides and selective pruning of the affected leaves. It could be necessary to cut off entire limbs with leaf rust.
Witches’ Broom – This disease results in a large grouping of twigs, dead leaves and branches that form a a broom shape. It is caused by pests, unusually rainy weather or fungus. The formation of a clump of leaves and twigs is the tree’s reaction to infection or danger.
Some cases of Witches’ Broom are fatal for the tree, others are just considered a growth malformation. An arborist can tell you for sure.
Mildew – Mildew is a fungus that grows on just about anything in moist conditions, but even after the wet conditions are gone, mildew can continue to thrive. Mildew appears as a powdery texture, typically white, and it often appears on the leaves of the tree first.
The trick to eliminating mildew is to apply a fungicide that contains sulfur. This will treat the current mildew and help to stop future mildew growth on the tree. You might also need to trim the tree to remove branches, fruit, flowers and any leaves that were affected by the mildew
Gall – Gall is a type of tree disease that appears when insects build small nests on the leaves or branches of a tree to lay their eggs in. Most galls are not dangerous for the tree, but none of them are attractive.
Gall will appear as bumps on the tree, in a range of sizes. They are often white, brown, gray or some color in between.
You do not have to treat the tree if there are galls, but they can affect the growth of new trees. Treat galls by killing the insects. You should also clean out from under the tree after the leaves fall off, since this is where the insects survive during winter.
Other Tree Problems
Poor Trimming – There’s an art to tree pruning, as well as many types, and if you don’t know how to do it, you could harm the tree beyond recovery. Consider the type of tree, season and other factors. Under-pruning (or not pruning at all) is just as big of an issue. Only an experienced arborist should be trusted to trim trees in order to keep them healthy.
Lack of Water – Young trees can be severely impacted by drought. If you plant new trees on your property, you will need to supplement the amount of water they get from rainfall. A tree that is not getting enough water can have its growth inhibited. The first symptom you are likely to noticed is scorched, dry leaves. Find more tips for new trees here.
Too Much Sun – Do some planning before planting trees in a full-sun area of your property. Most types of trees can handle it without issue, but too much sun can happen to any tree if the sun is too hot for an extended period of time and rainfall is light. A tree that is getting a lot of sun needs even more water to prevent wilting, drooping leaves.
Certified Arborist Services in Rhode Island
A certified arborist from RI Tree Trimming will be able to quickly identify what’s happening with your sick tree and formulate a plan to rescue it.
Here are the things an arborist is trained to do:
- Evaluate trees from below and from the branches of the tree if necessary. Getting into the canopy is often necessary to see exactly what is leading to the symptoms.
- Treat your tree with additives and fertilizers in the dirt or solutions applied to the leaves. This person will have expert knowledge about the disease impacting the tree and the most effective treatments for it.
- Prune trees to remove dead or diseased branches and to help healthy growth. Even if heavy trimming is necessary, they will know how to cut off branches so that the tree can survive both the issue and the trimming process.
- Remove the tree from your yard if nothing can be done to save it. The worst case scenario is that the tree is dying, and cutting it down is the only way to protect your property and surrounding landscape.
They can also inform you about the other trees that you have om your property and how to best maintain them so you don’t return to the same situation in the future.
Some tree problems look very similar to one another, requiring an expert eye to correctly diagnose and correct the issue. If your trees appear to be dry, disfigured or dying, call a certified arborist from RI Tree Trimming for an inspection before it’s too late.
