Reasons trees die
Why is my tree dying? This is the number 1 question we have heard from out clientele this year.
Oak, hickory, dogwood and other trees have been losing leaves, browning at the edges of their leaves or dying suddenly without any apparent reason. If we could look at the roots though, the reason would become apparent.
Often when leaves suddenly dry up and die on a plant it is due to a stem or root problem. Stem damage, especially from the string trimmers and lawn mowers, can open the tree up to rots, which weaken the tree. Check your tree for damage. Once damage occurs, it is too late to do much. It is not recommended to put anything on the wound, just prevent further damage. Kill the grass around the base of the tree and replace with mulch so mowers and string trimmers will not be close to the tree.
Most shade tree decline is due to drought at this time. The roots of the tree are in the top 8 to 12 inches of soil. When this soil is very dry for a long time, the tree’s feeder roots begin to die. The feeder roots are the small, fine white roots. They take up most of the water and nutrients for the tree. The tree must replace these roots to survive. The continued drought over the past few years has damaged trees and made it impossible for many to recover. The result is trees that die suddenly without apparent reason. We call this condition shade tree decline.
What can you do? By the time the tree shows symptoms it is often too late. Trees have large reserves of food and water stored up. When they suffer enough damage to kill them, it may be a year or more before they actually dry up and die. This is why a tree may die due to drought that happened long ago.
Shade tree decline weakens trees making them more susceptible to pests. Drying trees may have beetles in them. Weak trees can also have problems like slim flux (an oozing liquid from the stem), cankers or leaf spots. However, the main problem is tree decline. This must be addressed to solve the problem. The key is preventing shade tree decline. Keep the tree vigorous throughout its life.
One of the most important things you can do for your tree is water it. During dry times, water the soil to a depth of 7 inches every week. To do this will require ¾ to 1 inch of water each time. Water your tree by letting your garden hose trickle water out in the tree canopy for 10-15 minutes. Do this ONCE a week and you will have given your tree adequate water during a drought. Do not water lightly each day. This causes problems by encouraging a shallow root system making the trees susceptible to drought and cold weather.
Proper watering is extremely important and may save many trees if done during a drought. Once trees show signs of stress, it may be too late to help them. However, if the tree has green leaves on it, continue to care for it. It may recover.