Trees offer a great deal of aesthetic appeal to your yard and garden and can play a large role in the landscaping design around your house. However, trees are still plants, which means that they are susceptible to damage which, due to their large size and heavy weight, can turn them into a serious safety hazard that could harm your home. Understanding some of the signs associated with an ailing tree can help you identify the problem early, allowing you to have a trained professional remove the tree before it has the chance to fall over and cause significant structural damage.
1. Bark Damage
One of the earliest warning signs of disease or injury to a tree is if you notice that the bark on the trunk has begun to crack, peel, or otherwise separate itself from the trunk. Damage to the bark can expose the sensitive wood underneath, which can make further structural damage likely. Further, if the cracking bark translates into structural cracks in the trunk, the tree is at a heightened risk of falling over during a storm.
2. Fungus Growth
Another fairly easy to notice warning sign that it may be time to remove your tree is if you notice that there is a significant amount of fungal growth on the surface of your tree. Fungus will only grow on dead and rotting organic material, so if it is growing directly on your tree, it's likely already dead. Letting fungus eat away at a dead tree can ruin the tree's structural stability, again increasing the risk of the tree falling over.
3. Dead Branches
An early warning sign of pest infestation or disease in a tree is if you notice that a single branch or group of branches within your tree has died, which will be noticeable by the loss of leaves or needles compared to the rest of the tree. A dead branch will also likely sag or otherwise exhibit signs of physical damage like cracking and bark loss. You should contact a tree specialist at the first sign of damage or death in a tree branch: if you're able to catch a disease or infestation early, you'll be able to remove the branch by itself and save the rest of the tree. However, if the entire tree becomes infected or infested, you'll likely have to cut the entire thing down to prevent the spread of whatever is ailing it to other trees in your yard.
For more information, contact a local tree service today.
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