Is my tree dying?
For many property owners, the trees on the land are of high importance. If the property has been in the family for generations, you may have some large mature trees that were actually planted by family members decades before.
I remember one client that told me he purchased an older home in town because of the large oak tree in the landscape. One thing to keep in mind that eventually all trees will die at some point. Since a tree is a living organism, the tree can become injured, diseased or have issues with insects.
Note that different tree species have different life spans. Per our UGA information, in normal forest conditions, a red maple can live approximately
100 years and a white oak may live around 300 years. In a few months, trees should start to put on leaves. People may start noticing they are having issues with a few trees on the property.
Today, I will be sharing information on evaluation of tree health by use of a UGA publication by UGA staff, Mary Carol Sheffield, Ellen Bauske, Wade Hutcheson and Bodie Pennisi.
When a tree starts to decline, the decline normally happens over a period of years. Once a tree gets into a death spiral, there is little that can be done to fix the situation. Per our information, external pressures in our home environments and urban settings can reduce the normal tree lifespans for that species. Note, it is not unusual for mature trees in our landscapes to show signs of stress or decline.
Signs to look for are tip dieback, leaf or needle yellowing or browning, leaf or needle defoliation, leaf shedding, undersized leaves and thin tree crowns or canopies. You need to note that to conduct a visual evaluation of a tree’s health and to inspect for safety concerns with that tree, you must evaluate all parts of the tree such as visible roots, trunk, limbs and leaves.
To start evaluation, you should start at the base of the tree. Look at the root system and the root flare of the tree trunk. Do you see mushrooms or conks growing on the ground around the root system or on the tree’s trunk? You may hear others refer to mushrooms or conks also as fungal bodies. If you see these fungal bodies, these are signs of severe or advanced rot in the tree trunk or root system. You cannot reverse root decay. Root decay causes the tree to be less physically stable. A compromised root system per our information will see a tree decline or even fall. Please note that root decay is a sign that a tree is into a death spiral.
You need to evaluate the trunk flare at the tree base. Healthy trees are wider at the base where they meet the ground. You need to inspect the flare area of a tree for injury that can easily happen from cars, lawn mowers, weed eaters and even vandalism. When a tree is damaged, the tree is less able to move water and nutrients that are important for tree growth. This type of damage can lead to a tree that has less vigor and is less structurally stable.
With trunk flares and roots, be mindful of soil and damage during construction. If trunk flares and roots are covered with soil or damaged during construction activity around the trees, it can cause trees to go into a death spiral. Types of construction that may cause a tree death spiral is building construction, septic line work, sidewalks being added or improved, driveway enlargement, soil grading or soil removal in the tree root zone.
Keep in mind that most tree roots in Georgia grow in the top 12 to 18 inches of soil which can lead to many roots being injured when construction is going on. The rule-of-thumb is if the root zone within the drip line of a tree has been damaged or even disturbed, there is the potential for tree decline and tree death. The drip line is the point on the ground where water will drip off the widest branches of a tree.
Do not forget to inspect the trunk of the tree. You should evaluate for signs of fungi which is a sign of internal rot. Do you see bark injuries or signs of disease? Per our information, these could appear as cankers on the stem or branches or as a wound on the bark. You should remember that any place on the tree where bark has been knocked off or removed from the trunk will reduce the ability of the tree to transport nutrients and can lead to branch and limb dieback. You should also look at the branches and leaves.
Look for healthy leaves or leaves with spots, insect or disease damage. Are the leaves undersized, misshaped or discolored? There are many reasons for leaf issues which may even be seasonal or temporary. Look for dieback, defoliated limbs or twigs poking out of the tree canopy. Dieback can be signs of a serious issue such as internal decay. Finally, do not underestimate the importance of tree heath since an unstable tree can be dangerous for people, structures and property.
There are times you may need to hire a certified arborist to conduct a hazard assessment in some situations.