Many homeowners have a tree in their yard. However, if a homeowner suspects or is aware of a dying or dead tree on their property it is important to determine the cause of the problem. It is best practice to hire a certified arborist that has experience treating specific issues with particular species of trees, but it is also good for the property owner to know what is wrong with a certain tree.
According to tree removal Canberra owner Llewyn Dowling, trees are part of the natural environment, but sometimes they can get sick. Tree diseases can be caused by bacteria or fungi, and they can spoil the outer bark, inner wood (called the heartwood), roots, branches, twigs, leaves, flowers or fruit on trees.
If you notice any of the symptoms in this list, have a reputable arborist remove the tree as soon as possible to prevent other trees from catching the disease or infection.
Watch for falling limbs
If you notice that even small branches keep falling off of one particular tree in your yard, chances are that there is something seriously wrong with it. Although falling branches can certainly injure people and animals, most often they occur because the tree itself is out of balance. This may result from chemical damage due to pollution, insect infestation or disease.
Inspect the trunk
Look for cracks and splits in the bark, which may be a sign of internal decay. In addition to being aesthetically unpleasing, this type of damage can also increase the likelihood that dangerous diseases or pests will invade your yard. For example, if borers have gotten inside a tree trunk, they will eat away at it from within, causing weakness and potential injury to people and animals in the vicinity. If you see any signs of serious damage to any trees on your property, you need to take steps immediately to protect yourself and those around you from harm.
Check fruit colour
Fruit is another good indicator when determining whether or not a tree is dead or dying. If the fruit has fallen off of the tree before it has ripened, chances are that this is an early sign that something is wrong with it.
Look for suckers
Sucker growth appearing on the trunk means that the roots and lower parts of your tree have been damaged and may be dead already. This tends to occur when trees lack enough nutrients to sustain healthy growth at their base, which can potentially cause them to become unstable and fall over.
Watch for root damage
If no soil is visible around the roots, chances are high that there has been some kind of root damage due to construction around your property such as building a driveway or laying down cables. This can be dangerous because it reduces the tree’s ability to get nutrients, which may result in the injury or death of your trees.
Look for chemical damage
If you recently bought a property and believe all of the trees on it were dead when you moved in, chances are high that someone used an insecticide or herbicide on them before they were cut down. This is especially important to keep in mind if you plan on planting new trees, since chemicals left behind by former owners can potentially stunt their growth as well as harm wildlife like birds and squirrels who may eat the fruit from your trees.
Inspect bark
If parts of your tree’s bark have turned black or grey, this typically points to severe fungal infection. Fungal infections affect trees in different ways depending on the type of fungus, such as causing new shoots to grow or if it is a trunk rot, which can cause entire sections of the tree to die off and potentially result in injury or damage to your property.
Check for animal nests
If you notice animal nests inside the hollows of your tree trunks, this means that they likely died while producing fruit and may be filled with honey bees or wasps who have made their home inside. This creates a health hazard for people and animals near your trees, because wasps and bees will attack anyone who goes near their nest.
Inspect for insect infestation
Insect infestations such as carpenter ants and termites can cause internal damage to a tree, which can result in it becoming structurally unstable. These types of infestations are dangerous not only for the tree itself but also for people and animals who go near or under it. Look for holes in the leaves that could indicate honey bees are nesting inside them, which means there is a major infestation.
