Trees are living things, so it stands to reason that they can become “sick” like people and animals. A disease or other tree problem might take a little while to show appear because of the overall size of the tree, and once symptoms become obvious, it could be too late to restore the tree.
A certified arborist from FL Tree Trimming can help you identify and treat tree problems so that there is a much greater chance of saving the tree. Learn about our service here. Not only can an arborist help to prevent a tree from dying, but they can also help trees get healthier growth and bloom more flowers or fruit.
Have you noticed a tree on your property that has always seemed healthy but suddenly seems like something is wrong? In the next blog post, we’ll explain some of the most typical tree problems and diseases and what these symptoms mean for a tree.
If you spot any of these things on any of your trees, act fast to have the best chance of saving the tree and the ones nearby it.
Tree Diseases & Common Problems
These 7 things are the most typical problems addressed by certified arborists in Florida. The moment you think one of these things might be wrong with your tree, reach out to someone with the training and equipment to help!
Tree Diseases
Leaf Rust – Leaf rust is actually a fungus that is common in both trees and plants. The name comes from the brown and yellow spots this disease causes on the leaves.
Leaf rust is dangerous because it interferes with the leaves’ photosynthesis, the process by which it breathes. Leaf rust can be treated with fungicides and selective tree trimming of the affected leaves. It could be recommended to cut off whole limbs with leaf rust.
Witches’ Broom – This common tree disease results in a large mass of twigs, dead leaves and branches that form a a broom shape. It is caused by pests, unusually wet weather or fungus. The construction of a clump of twigs and leaves is the tree’s reaction to infection or danger.
Some cases of Witches’ Broom are deadly for the tree, others are only considered a growth malformation. An arborist can tell you for sure.
Mildew – Mildew is a type of fungus that grows on almost anything in wet conditions, but even when the moist conditions are over with, mildew can continue to thrive. It appears as a powdery substance, usually white, and it usually appears on the leaves of the tree first.
The trick to eliminating mildew is to apply a fungicide that contains sulfur. This will eliminate the current mildew and help to stop future mildew growth on the tree. You may also need to trim the tree to remove branches, fruit, flowers and any leaves that have been affected by the mildew
Gall – Gall is a type of tree disease that happens when pests or rodents build small nests on the leaves or branches of a tree to lay their eggs in. Most types of galls are not dangerous for the tree, but none of them are attractive.
Gall will appear as bumps on the tree, in varying sizes. They are often white, brown, gray or some color in between.
It is not necessary to treat the tree if there are galls, but they can limit the growth of recently planted 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 pests live during winter months.
Other Tree Problems
Improper Trimming – There’s a science to tree pruning, as well as many types, and if you don’t know what to do, you could harm the tree past the point of recovery. Consider the type of tree, season and other factors. Under-pruning (or a lack of pruning at all) is just as big of an issue. Only a trained arborist should be trusted to trim trees to keep them healthy.
Lack of Water – New trees can be significantly affected by drought. If you plant new trees on your property, you will need to supplement how much water they get from rainfall. A tree that doesn’t get enough water can have its growth stunted. The first sign you are likely to noticed is scorched or dry leaves. Find more tips for new trees here.
Too Much Sun – Do your planning before planting trees in a sunny area. Most species of trees can handle it without issue, but too much sun can happen to any tree if the sun is too hot for a long period of time and rainfall is light. A tree that is getting a lot of sun needs extra water to prevent wilting, drooping leaves.
Certified Arborist Services in Florida
A trained arborist from FL Tree Trimming will be able to quickly identify what’s going on with your sick tree and come up with a plan to rescue it.
Here are the things an arborist is qualified to do:
- Inspect trees from the ground and from the limbs of the tree if necessary. Climbing into the canopy is usually necessary to identify exactly what is creating the symptoms.
- Treat your tree through additives and fertilizers in the soil or solutions applied to the leaves. This person will have knowledge about the disease impacting the tree and the best treatments for it.
- Prune tree limbs to eliminate dead or damaged branches and to encourage healthy growth. Even if heavy trimming is necessary, they will know how to cut off branches so that the tree can survive both the disease and the pruning.
- Remove the tree from your lawn if there is no chance to save it. The worst case scenario is that the tree is dying, and cutting it down is the only way to protect your home and surrounding landscape.
They can also educate you about the other trees that you have om your property and how to best maintain them so you don’t find yourself in the same situation in the future.
Some tree issues look similar to each other, requiring an expert opinion to accurately determine and treat the issue. If your trees appear to be dry, unhealthy or disfigured, call a certified arborist from FL Tree Trimming for an inspection before it’s too late.
