Tree Services | Lehi, Utah | Rivendell Tree Experts
Contact Us: 
(801) 500-0377
(801) 928-4566

​
271 N 500 E​
Lehi, UT 84043
  • Home
  • Services
    • Tree Pruning & Maintenance
    • Tree Removal
    • Tree Planting
    • Tree Risk Assessment
    • Tree Emergency Services
    • Stump Grinding
  • What is an Arborist?
  • Blog
  • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
  • Careers
  • Request A Quote
  • Sitemap

Diagnosing Tree Disease: 4 Warning Signs of a Problem

10/31/2018

11 Comments

 
Picture
Tree disease can devastate your landscape but, if you catch the problem early on, you stand a much better chance of stopping the bacterial, viral or fungal infection from damaging or killing off your much-loved trees.
 
If you’re not sure how to spot a diseased tree, you’re not alone. We suggest you take a close look at your trees whenever you’re working in the yard. Scan the leaves, branches and bark for irregularities and, as you perform your inspection, watch for the following warning signs. 
 
If you do notice a problem, contact a Utah certified arborist for help with tree disease treatment.  
 
No. 1: Differences in the Foliage
 
Look up at the tree canopy. Do you see a difference in the coloration of the foliage or leaves dropping – and it isn’t the right season? Or are any of the leaves sporting holes or malformations?
 
The state of the foliage is a good indicator of overall health. Early leaf drop, color changes and damaged leaves are all potential signs of tree disease. 
 
No. 2: Dead or Dying Branches
 
Check for dead branches – if you see any limbs that look dry and lifeless, seek out prompt disease treatment.
 
Dying branches may also point to a problem, but since decay occurs from the inside out, failing limbs aren’t easy to identify. So, look for other symptoms of decay, including mushroom growth and crumbly wood. 
 
No. 3: Uneven Growth
 
Has one of your trees developed a significant lean? Or do you notice any branches growing close together?
 
A lopsided growth pattern can mean tree disease treatment is necessary. And, with poorly-structured limbs, weakening in the branch unions makes disease a more likely problem.
 
No. 4: Visible Changes in the Bark
 
When tree disease sets in, the effects can often be seen in the bark. 
 
Bacterial, viral and fungal infections weaken the bark, which results in discolorations. As time goes on, disease can create deep splits and cracks. Cankers, or dead areas of bark on the branches or trunk, are also possible signs of disease.
 
Which Tree Disease is the Problem?
 
To the untrained eye, disease can be difficult enough to spot – and with the dozens of diseases that are common in northern Utah, diagnosing the particular problem is even more of a challenge. Guess wrong, and any treatment you try will likely fail. Worse, applying the wrong treatment could even kill the tree.
 
For that reason, tree disease treatment should be left to a certified arborist, like the team at Rivendell Tree Experts. Our professionals can perform a full assessment to figure out which bacterial, viral or fungal infection is the problem. Once we have a diagnosis, we can provide a range of effective treatment options.
 
In addition, since healthy trees are better able to resist disease, our certified arborists will provide proactive tips to help prevent future issues on your northern Utah property. For more information on Rivendell Tree Experts, or to schedule a free, no-obligation tree disease treatment consultation, contact our Lehi office today.
 
 
11 Comments
Stefan Bradley link
7/18/2019 08:31:23 am

I'm glad that you mentioned how dying branches could be a sign that your tree has an infection. My brother's tree branches are starting to rot, he needs help taking care of his tree. I hope that he can find a tree care service that can offer him some assistance.

Reply
Ellie Davis link
11/7/2019 07:05:03 am

It's interesting to know that dying branches on your tree can be a sign of problems. My husband and I are thinking about how to help my mom with the trees in our backyard, and we are looking for advice. I will let him know about the benefits of calling a tree service company to help her.

Reply
Eileen Benson link
3/5/2020 09:47:32 am

Thanks for explaining that limbs may take a while to fall since decay happens from the inside out, which is why it's important to watch for other warning signs. When I was mowing the lawn yesterday, I noticed some crumbling wood on the trunk of the oak tree by the side of my house. I'm glad I read your article so I can have a tree service come and take a look at the issue soon.

Reply
Rebecca Gardner link
6/1/2020 12:22:48 pm

I'm glad you mentioned that we can end up killing the tree if we misdiagnose the problem and try to treat it incorrectly. My husband and I noticed some strange spots on the trunk of our oak tree when we were doing yard work together last Saturday morning. Thanks for teaching me why it'd be the best option to have a professional evaluate the tree and potentially remove it!

Reply
kate hansen link
6/18/2020 12:31:09 pm

It's good to know that mushroom growth is a sign of a dying tree. Yesterday I noticed mushrooms growing around the base of my tree that is in my front yard, and I was wondering if that was a sign that it was dying. I'll have to look into hiring a tree service to come and remove it for me so that it's not at risk of falling over.

Reply
Zoe Campos link
7/12/2020 05:02:25 pm

It's interesting to know that we can observe through the tree's bark if it is suffering from a disease. We have a tree next to our house that has lived for decades but we haven't seen a new, green leaf growing out of it for months. It might be better to check it's bark if it is really dying and see if we need to hire experts in tree removal services.

Reply
Amy Winters link
8/17/2020 10:26:44 am

It's good to know that branches growing too close together can indicate our tree has a disease. I was doing some gardening yesterday morning and noticed an area in our large oak tree where quite a few branches were growing closely together. Thanks for letting me know that we should have the tree looked at and potentially cut down for safety!

Reply
Zachary Tomlinson link
11/16/2020 12:58:42 am

I had no clue that seeing a couple of changes to a tree's bark is already an indicator that it could be diseased. My uncle told me that most of his oak trees have these black spots lately. I should suggest that he also check for dying branches just to make sure. Hopefully, he could find a tree removal expert that can take care of this for him.

Reply
Daphne Gilpin link
11/16/2020 10:51:09 am

It's good to know that uneven growth can indicate disease and lead to weakening of the tree. In my opinion, it's a good idea to hire a professional tree pruning service who will have the training to notice issues like these right away. If you trim your trees on your own, you may not be able to notice an uneven growth pattern like a professional could.

Reply
Toby Ryan link
12/16/2020 11:55:50 am

I'm thankful that you explained the various indications that your tree may have a problem. I remember my wife mentioning that our oak tree is rotting and needs to be removed. We'll find someone that can help us remove our tree.

Reply
Curtis Butler link
2/8/2021 11:53:17 am

I had no idea that your tree may be diseased if you start to notice that cracks and cankers are beginning to form on the bark. Ever since my brother stopped watering his oak tree before work every morning, he has noticed that small cracks have been forming near the base and may cause the tree to fall during an incoming storm this weekend. We'll find a tree removal service that can get rid of it before it becomes a hazard.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.