In addition to being a critical part of your landscape, trees offer benefits such as additional privacy, a source of shade, and shelter for birds and other wildlife. As such, it is a sad affair when a tree dies. There are obvious signs that a tree is dying or in distress, and it needs immediate attention. But sometimes, it is difficult to determine if a tree is sick, which makes it impossible to address the issue. And when you do discover that you have an ill tree, exactly what are you to do? There are signs to look for that might indicate a sick or dying tree. There are also ways that you can save it. After all, your landscaping company in Loveland did an amazing job with your yard, and losing a tree would be such a shame.
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Signs That Your Tree is Dying
Lack of Leaves– Healthy trees enjoy full foliage in the summer, and the leaves should be beautiful and plentiful. A sick tree will have bare patches, and the leaves will not drop to the ground in the fall. Evergreen trees will display yellow or brown needles if it is not well.
Brittle Bark– A tree that is dying will display loose bark or deep splits in the bark. The bark becomes very brittle and breaks off, and falls to the ground.
It’s Full of Pests– Ants and beetles love to make their homes in dead or dying trees. Take a close look at the tree to see if it is full of these types of pests to help determine if it is healthy or not.
Dead Wood– Finding a few dead branches in a tree is no big concern, but if there are a lot of dead branches, that could spell trouble. Dead branches are a hazard as they could fall and hurt someone or do other damage.
Tower of Pisa– If you have a tree that is leaning like the Tower of Pisa, it could indicate that it is either sick or dying. Trees that lean often have root damage or have been a victim of wind damage.
Root Damage– Tree roots run deep underground, and there is really no way to check on their health short of excavation. However, if you have had work done to your yard that required a lot of digging with heavy equipment, that could have damaged the roots.
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Saving a Dying Tree
Determining if a tree is sick or dying can be quite tricky, but if you discover it is ill, finding out the reason why is rather difficult. It would be in your best interest to do some research on the matter or simply call in an expert for their guidance. Proper diagnosis and immediate treatment are needed if you want your tree to survive.
Improper water levels are one of the more common reasons for trees to fall ill. Trees can be adversely affected by the amount of water they get. That is, you could be killing your trees by giving them too much or too little water. Again, do some research or consult an expert to determine the proper amount of water for a particular tree.
Mulching is an excellent way to ensure your trees are getting enough nutrients. You want to ensure that you dig down deep enough so that the mulch reaches the roots. Fertilizers can also help transfer a sick tree to a healthy tree. Make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions when treating your tree.
Pruning is critical to maintaining healthy trees as long as it is done correctly. By cutting away damaged or unhealthy areas of the tree, you prevent the problem from spreading to other parts of the tree.
Don’t Give Up
If you are trying to save a tree but feel as though you are failing, don’t give up hope. Sometimes there is nothing you can do to save a tree, and then you have to have it removed. But there are experts in the field who know just what to do to try to save a tree. Call your local tree service company, and they can work minor miracles saving trees.
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