How Do You Know If Your Tree Is Dying?

10/27/2017 (Permalink)

These are the signs to look for if you think your tree is dying.

How to Spot a Dying Tree on Your Property

Trees are one of nature's most beautiful gifts. But when your regular home maintenance schedule doesn't include tree inspection, trees can become a danger to your Brunswick property. Knowing signs of a dying tree are critical – before it's too late. Here are five ways to evaluate your trees.

1. Have you seen chipping bark? No need to panic – yet. Trees commonly lose some outer shell here and there. A healthy tree will regenerate lost bark. However, if you're noticing that the trunk is not recovering or are seeing bare patches, it's a sign of a sick tree.
2. Think back to the last wind or rain storm. Were there branches down afterward? If it was more than a handful, you may have a problem. Here's a good test: try to snap one of the fallen branches. Does it snap easily? That's a sign of a dead branch. A tougher snap indicates green wood and a healthy branch.
3. How are the leaves? If there are bare branches in the height of summer, it's likely your tree is sick. Yellowing leaves before autumn hits? Dropping leaves early in the season? These are both indicators of disease. Take a look at your trees in the winter. Are there brown, brittle leaves still attached to branches? That's a telltale sign of a dead branch. What about evergreen trees? Red or yellow needles on the top half to top third of the tree can indicate a dying tree.
4. Take a look at the base of the trunk – do you notice mushroom-like fungus? This type of fungus thrives on rotting wood. And unfortunately, once you're seeing visible decay on the outside of the tree, it's too late. Decay begins on the inside and works to the outside. If they haven't already, wood boring insects will quickly feast on the decay, weakening the tree further.
5. Have there been any environmental changes or stressors to your trees? Construction can inadvertently damage a root system or newly expose a tree to the elements if surrounding trees were cut down – and both scenarios will weaken a tree.

It's important to identify and correct dying trees on your property and in the community before the disease can spread. There's nothing more dangerous to people or to property than falling trees and branches. If the worst happens and your property is damaged, SERVPRO of Brunswick is here to help.