Why Are My Trees Dying?

Your dead or dying trees could become severe hazards capable of causing catastrophic damage to your property. Knowing why your trees are getting sick and dying will help you take action to either save them or remove them.

fasttreeremovalatlanta.com gathered the following information to help you uncover the many reasons your trees may appear to be dying or already dead and what to do with them.

What Is Making My Trees Sick?

Your trees may be under stress or dying from a variety of conditions. For some of the following, the situation can be reversed, for others, tree removal may be necessary for the protection of the surrounding trees and landscape:

Drought – Trees are capable of resisting disease-causing organisms and insect infestations when they are sufficiently hydrated. During times of drought, trees, shrubs, and plants use up water stored in the soil.

If this water is not replenished, trees will begin to display the following signs:

• Wilting
• Unseasonal leaf drop
• Insect infestation
• Fungal growth

It is essential to note that the above signs of illness or infestation typically appear after years of stress being applied to a tree’s health.

Unseasonable Heat – With global average temperatures on the rise and in many regions, longer summer seasons, heat may cause trees to lose the ability to evaporate enough water to cool their leaves.

When trees cannot meet their cooling needs, the result is leaf damage and additional stress to the tree’s health. This condition often causes early leaf drop in deciduous species and mortality in conifers.

Note: In small doses over long periods, trees are extremely capable of adapting to evolving conditions. However, at the rate temperatures are on the rise globally, trees are unable to keep up. Those trees found on the cusp of their hardiness zone are usually the first to develop symptoms of “overheating”.

Boring Insects – These insects have mastered their attack on trees to the point that by the time you recognize signs of infestation, the insects have likely moved on to a new host. Boring insects like beetles tend to successfully attack trees already stressed by heat, drought, and other factors. Signs of a boring insect infestation include:

• Entry/Exit holes in the trunk, branches, or stems
• Foliage wilting or loss on specific branches or stems
• Branch or stem death on an otherwise healthy-looking tree
• Visual identification of the insect

Due to the destructive nature of boring insects, an arborist must be hired to inspect the tree, perform a hazard assessment, and evaluate the risk to the surrounding environment.

Read more about beetle damage and treatment at fasttreeremovalatlanta.com/ambrosia-beetle-damage-treatment

Disease – When trees are infected by a disease, they can take years to show symptoms, and by then, it may be too late to save the tree. This depends on the health of the tree when it was successfully attacked, the tree’s capacity to compartmentalize diseased tissue, and how the tree was infected.

Pathogens that attack trees through their roots are fast-acting and can cause hydraulic failure and death in a fraction of the time others may take.

Diseases that frequently attack trees include:

• Anthracnose
• Armillaria root rot
• Dothistroma needle blight
• Oak wilt
• Phytophthora diseases
• Blight diseases
• Cytospora (Cankers)

Some pathogens like the ambrosia fungi are carried from tree to tree by boring insects. If successfully attacked, the tree now hosts a boring insect infestation and the disease it brought with it. Coupled with an already weakened state, such trees are likely to show symptoms, decline, and die fairly quickly.

Note: Tree roots weakened/stunted by drought or root rot (poorly drained soil) are most susceptible to successful pathogen attacks, such as Armillaria root rot.

Poor Tree Care – In some instances, a tree’s health can be weakened by the actions meant to boost its health. Consider the following:

• Poor pruning practices
• Using unsterilized equipment
• Over-fertilizing
• Water-logging the soil
• Herbicide application (to kill weeds) too close to the root plate or on the tree
• Volcano mulching

Read more about tree pruning, cutting, and removal at fasttreeremovalatlanta.com/when-tree-pruning-cutting-emergency-removal-atlanta-ga

When a tree suddenly dies, it is likely due to multiple factors (drought, infestation, disease, unseasonable heat, etc.) causing hydraulic failure within the tree. Visit fasttreeremovalatlanta.com/how-do-i-know-if-my-tree-dying to discover what other signs to watch for when a tree’s health is declining.

Trees Eventually Die

For as much as we love and care for our trees, they are not immortal. It is normal for trees to grow old and die. Many fruit trees have a lifespan limited to decades, while some species may persist for hundreds or thousands of years. You can give your tree its best shot at a long life by:

• Planting an appropriate species for the region
• Planting it well within its hardiness zone
• Planting it in the right location*
• Providing the correct balance of nutrients
• Providing sufficient water (especially in times of drought)
• Using proper organic mulching techniques
• Using proper pruning methods with sterilized equipment

* The importance of planting a tree in the proper location cannot be overstated. The roots need space to grow and develop unobstructed. The tree’s canopy should be free from obstruction (especially from any power lines above).

If and when the time comes to have your tree removed, call a professional tree service to have it safely brought down, especially if it is infested or diseased. This will help you save any neighboring trees, shrubs, and plants from being infected or infested by whatever killed your tree.

My Trees Are Dying

In this article, you discovered several reasons that can lead to the death of your tree(s), and what to do with them.

By recognizing the signs of disease and infestation, and taking action, you can potentially save your tree. At the very least, you can make informed decisions on what needs to be done.

When you ignore the signs of an ailing tree, you place your property, vehicles, and even your well-being at grave risk if the tree topples.

Sources:
tcia.org/TCIA/Blog_Items/2014/What_To_Do_When_Your_Tree_Is_Dying.aspx
newhanover.ces.ncsu.edu/2019/06/why-are-my-trees-dying/
science.sciencemag.org/content/suppl/2013/11/13/342.6160.1235773.DC1
fs.fed.us/foresthealth/protecting-forest/native-insects-diseases/
extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/cytospora-canker-spruce
extension.tennessee.edu/publications/Documents/SP686.pdf

Fast Tree Removal Services Atlanta

3379 Peachtree Road #555a, Atlanta, GA 30326
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Fast Tree Removal Services Dunwoody

2111 Peachford Cir, Dunwoody, GA 30338
(404) 220-9963

To view the orignal version of this post, visit: http://www.fasttreeremovalatlanta.com/why-are-my-trees-dying

Why Are My Tree’s Leaves Turning Black?

Don’t let your tree die when its leaves start turning black. Knowing what causes leaves to turn black and drop can help you spring into action, saving your tree and protecting your landscape.

fasttreeremovalatlanta.com gathered the information why, and steps to take when your tree’s leaves start turning black and falling off your tree.

Why Do Tree Leaves Turn Black?

There are many reasons your tree’s leaves can turn black and fall off the tree. The following are some of the more probable causes:

Hot Weather and Drought – During times of drought, trees are more susceptible to being damaged by radical changes in temperature.

Sudden rises in temperature can leach the moisture out of your trees and cause its leaves to wither, brown, and blacken.

While it isn’t feasible to control the weather, you can help your trees survive radical temperature fluctuations by doing the following:

• Increase the frequency of deep watering
• Decrease the amount of fertilizer applied
• Mulch your trees

During times of drought coupled with high temperatures, your tree’s internal processes speed up. Over-fertilizing may cause your trees to consume more nutrients than they can process, causing fertilizer burn and hastening their death.

Learn more about how to fertilize trees by reading fasttreeremovalatlanta.com/fertilization-basics-healthier-trees

Boring Insect Infestations – When trees are stressed by hot weather, disease, or poor care practices, they become highly susceptible to successful insect attacks. Namely, beetle attacks.

Beetle infestations often result in leaf wilt, severe defoliation, and the blackening of the leaves. When a tree or stand of trees falls victim to a beetle infestation, treatment must begin immediately to slow or halt an infestation of epidemic proportions.

Some of the signs of a successful beetle infestation include:

• Unseasonal leaf color change
• Premature leaf drop
• Crown wilting
• Blackening of the foliage
• Entry holes
• Sawdust found on limbs and trunk

Infested trees are challenging to treat without killing the tree itself, and should be left to a tree professional. However, unaffected trees in the vicinity should be treated with insecticides to deter beetle attacks.

Ash trees are highly vulnerable to the deadly emerald ash borer. However, when their foliage blackens, it is more likely from an anthracnose infection than the borer.

NOTE: It is common practice to remove and destroy heavily beetle-infested trees to protect a wooded area or stand of healthy trees. In some instances, uninfected diseased trees that have become susceptible to beetle infestations may also be removed to prevent the spread of the beetle.

The ambrosia beetle is another boring insect that affects many tree species throughout North America. Learn more about the damage it causes and how to treat an infestation by reading fasttreeremovalatlanta.com/ambrosia-beetle-damage-treatment

Anthracnose Tree Disease – This disease is often referred to as leaf spot or leaf blight. It may be caused by several different fungi. The following are some of the common symptoms indicating that your tree is infected:

• Irregular dead spots on leaves
• Formation of cankers on twigs, branches, and the trunk
• Wilting and blackening of affected foliage
• Premature leaf drop
• Bud death (resembling frost damage)

Treatment for anthracnose includes the systematic application of fungicides in late winter and early spring, and the extensive pruning of affected areas of the tree.

Diseases like anthracnose are easily transmitted from one tree to another, usually by splashing water, overhead watering, and rainwater. Another common form of transmission is through the gardening and pruning tools used for your landscaping. Read about disease prevention tips at fasttreeremovalatlanta.com/5-tree-shrub-disease-prevention-tips

NOTE: Any time more than 25% of a tree’s crown must be pruned, call in a professional tree service to evaluate the health of the tree and potential alternatives to pruning.

Anthracnose is rarely lethal to mature trees. Still, repeated annual infections can cause the decline of the tree’s health, leading to infestations, disease, and the eventual death of the tree.

For more information on identifying and managing anthracnose, visit ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7420.html

Tree Health and Disease Prevention

There are insecticides, fertilizers, and fungicides that can be applied throughout the year to protect your trees. However, the most effective measure to take in preventing your trees from withering in the heat, succumbing to boring insects, or contracting lethal diseases is to promote their health relentlessly.

The following are measures you can take to promote the healthy growth of your trees:

• Conduct annual soil tests to determine nutrient deficiencies and pH adjustments
• Adjust your watering schedule to keep the soil moist but well-drained
• Maintain organic mulch over the root plate throughout the year
• Correctly prune your trees to encourage spring growth
• Have your trees and landscape inspected annually by a professional tree service to detect any potential issues.

Your vigilance in keeping your trees healthy is perhaps their greatest ally in reaching maturity and living their lives pest and disease-free.

When Tree Leaves Turn Black

In this article, you discovered why tree leaves can turn black, and the steps you can take to help your tree recover and prevent future occurrences.

When problems arise, and they will, your immediate response is fundamental to the preservation of a robust landscape filled with healthy trees.

Your inaction or indifference will result in the decline of your tree’s health, its eventual death, and the potential to fall on your property or cause severe injuries.

Sources:
extension.psu.edu/anthracnose-on-shade-trees
entomology.ca.uky.edu/ent43
ipm.ucanr.edu/QT/treeborerscard.html

Fast Tree Removal Services Atlanta

3379 Peachtree Road #555a, Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 220-9965

Fast Tree Removal Services Dunwoody

2111 Peachford Cir, Dunwoody, GA 30338
(404) 220-9963

To view the orignal version of this post, visit: http://www.fasttreeremovalatlanta.com/why-leaves-turning-black

Why Is My Tree Leaking Water

Avoid cutting down a healthy tree because of a misguided diagnosis. Wetwood is a common condition that could lead to grave tree health problems but is more beneficial than you might think.

fasttreeremovalatlanta.com gathered information on wetwood and slime flux, how to identify them, and how these conditions affect trees.

What Is Wetwood?

Wetwood is a bacterial condition occurring commonly within the heartwood and/or sapwood of certain tree species, primarily in:

• Birches (Betula)
• Poplars (Populus)
• Sycamores (Platanus Occidentalis)
• Maples (Acer)
• Boxelders (Acer Negundo)
• Ash (Fraxinus)
• Aspens (Populus Tremuloides)
• Elms (Ulmus)
• Cottonwoods (Populus)
• Oaks (Quercus)
• Firs (Abies)
• Hemlocks (Tsuga)
• Willows (Salix)

Traditionally viewed as a nuisance or a disease, wetwood is more of a symbiosis in which the tree creates favorable conditions for any one or combination of numerous bacteria to flourish.

Many of the tree species in which wetwood occurs do not have decay fighting extractives and would be highly vulnerable to fungal infections without the occurrence of the bacteria.

This bacterial growth creates unfavorable conditions for harmful pulp-consuming fungi by lowering the oxygen content of the wood while producing inhibitory organic acids.

The organic acids produced by the bacteria are responsible for the odor associated with wetwood, and slime flux (the liquid that leaks or oozes from the tree).

Bacterial Wetwood and Slime Flux

When a tree with wetwood is wounded, the fluids produced by the bacteria and the tree’s sap will ooze from the wound. Thus, the appearance that the tree is leaking water. The following are essential to know before breaking out the pruning gear:

Bacteria By-Product – Within the tree, the fluids produced by the tree’s heartwood and by the bacteria are clear or opaque. Once exposed to the air, they take on a darker appearance, leaving blackened streaks running down the bark.

During the lifecycle of the bacteria, gases are produced, which cause pressure to build up within the tree. Over time, the pressure-driven fluids find an exit path through wounds, cracked bark, storm damage, or boring insect attacks. It is common to see several streaks.

This fluid is acidic, smells sour, attracts a variety of insects, and can quickly damage the tree’s bark. If not neutralized, it can eventually eat through the bark and away at the tree’s trunk leaving a gaping hole in the tree (see treatment measures below).

Trees with wetwood are notorious for spraying or squirting this putrid-smelling fluid when pruning cuts are made.

A crucial aspect of tree health is knowing when to prune, cut, or even remove your trees. Learn more about the process and timing at fasttreeremovalatlanta.com/when-tree-pruning-cutting-emergency-removal-atlanta-ga

Slime Flux without Wetwood – A tree without wetwood may still produce black ooze, white foam, or slime flux when it is wounded or poorly pruned and the exiting sap is contaminated by any of the wetwood causing bacteria.

The potential for this scenario underscores the need to work with sanitized equipment whenever working from tree to tree.

Equipment Treatment – All equipment used to prune or handle a tree with wetwood or slime flux should be sanitized using a 5 part water to 1 part bleach solution.

When Should I Call a Tree Service – As soon as you detect the symptoms of slime flux, call in a professional to evaluate the tree and what – if any – actions should be taken.

Slime Flux Treatment

There is no cure for bacterial wetwood. However, slime flux can and should be treated to prevent severe bark damage to your tree. To neutralize the bacteria and acidic properties of the fluids oozing from your tree, follow these steps:

1 – Mix 1 part bleach to 10 parts water and spray the affected areas of the tree. This solution is a more diluted version of the one used to sanitize your equipment.
2 – Apply the bleach solution once per week for four or more weeks.
3 – Discontinue using the bleach solution when you detect that the tree is healing and stops ejecting fluids.

While you have a tree leaking or oozing these fluids, keep the other trees and shrubs in your yard healthy and disease-free. Read more about tree and shrub disease prevention at fasttreeremovalatlanta.com/5-tree-shrub-disease-prevention-tips

My Tree Is Oozing Sap

In this article, you discovered how wetwood and slime flux can make your tree appear to be leaking water, how to identify them correctly, and when to call a tree service for assistance.

By taking preventative and control measures, you can stop your tree from oozing the putrid-smelling fluid produced from bacterial wetwood.

Without taking action to control slime flux, you are creating the potential for insect infestations, fungal infections, declining health, and the eventual death of your tree.

Sources:
https://forestpathology.org/bacterial-viral-diseases/wetwood/
https://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-and-plant-advice/help-diseases/wetwood
ag.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/wetwood-slime-flux/
gatrees.org/community-forests/ask-the-arborist/SlimeFlux.pdf
ask.extension.org/questions/568886

Fast Tree Removal Services Atlanta

3379 Peachtree Road #555a, Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 220-9965

Fast Tree Removal Services Dunwoody

2111 Peachford Cir, Dunwoody, GA 30338
(404) 220-9963

To view the orignal version of this post, visit: http://www.fasttreeremovalatlanta.com/why-is-my-tree-leaking-water

How do I Know If My Tree Is Dying

A dying tree is not always obvious, but not knowing the signs is dangerous and may pose a grave risk to people and structures around it. If you can distinguish a troubled or dying tree, you may potentially save yourself from significant loss and costly repairs down the road.

fasttreeremovalatlanta.com gathered the following information to help you discern between a tree that is troubled, dying, or dead and what to do about it.

Is My Tree Dead or Dormant

In late fall and through the winter months, trees may appear to be dead. Deciduous trees, unlike evergreen trees, will lose their leaves and stop growing through the colder months of the year. Here’s how to tell the difference:

1 – Locate a branch or stem to perform a scratch test.
2 – Using a sharp knife, pruning tool, or your fingernail, scratch a very small portion of the bark away.
3 – Examine the tissue just beneath the bark (this is called the cambium tissue).

Green hues and dampness indicate that your tree is alive. Your tree is dying or dead if you encounter dry, brittle, and brown conditions. Repeat the test on another area of the tree to confirm the result.

If your tree is dying or dead, call an arborist to evaluate the tree and recommend a course of action. A dead tree near structures and people poses a series of risks to its surroundings and should be removed immediately.

Leaves Are Changing Colors

In the fall, deciduous trees undergo a phase in which leaves change from green to red, orange, yellow, or brown before falling to the ground (this is normal).
However, when leaf color changes happen in spring or summer, on any tree (deciduous or evergreen), you have a significant problem on your hands.

The following are problems that cause off-season leaf color change, wilt, or premature leaf-drop.

Severe Drought – Drought throughout the winter season and into spring can cause severe stress to trees. This stress shows up as:

• Wilting
• Severe dieback
• Leaf color change
• Premature leaf drop
• Successful insect infestation
• Tree death

During drought conditions, increase your watering cycles to maintain the soil around your trees moist. Make sure that trees are mulched. Mulching will help retain soil moisture and prevent roots from drying out.

Boring Insect Infestation – Trees are pretty good at defending themselves from boring insects. However, when a tree is stressed, boring insects are more likely to attack a tree successfully.

Insect infestations cause tree foliage to wilt, change color, grow smaller or deformed, or drop prematurely. Changes can occur in a portion of the crown, or throughout the entire crown depending where the insects have attacked the tree.

The signs of boring insects include:

• Boring dust or sawdust
• Feeding trails or galleries beneath the bark
• Entry or exit holes in the bark
• Actual insects
• Dieback

Treatment for wood boring insects with insecticides is more effective as a preventative measure. Once a successful infestation has occurred, the tree will potentially need extensive pruning. Your best course of action during an infestation is to call an arborist to the location to evaluate the tree, suggest a course of action, and make a threat assessment to surrounding trees and vegetation.

Disease – A diseased tree can appear healthy on one side and dying on the other. There are some disease threats like anthracnose, heart rot, and root rot that can kill a mature tree in a matter of weeks. Below are symptoms to look for:

• Wilting
• Slow leaf growth
• Changing leaf color
• Premature leaf drop

If you suspect that your tree is diseased, have it inspected immediately by a professional tree service. In many cases, a tree can be treated and pruned, allowing it to compartmentalize the disease and continue living.

Girdling – Girdling happens when either compression or bark damage occurs around the circumference of the tree trunk, causing hydraulic failure within the tree. Climbing vines, ropes tied around the tree, vehicle and machinery impacts, or any activity which strips the bark from a tree can cause girdling.

When a tree is girdled, the signs are obvious:

• Leaves will turn yellow or brown and fall from the tree
• Twigs and branches will become brittle
• Signs of disease or insect infestation will likely accompany the death of the tree.

Avoid girdling by:

• Cutting vines off from their roots near the ground (don’t try to remove them from the tree, you may further damage the bark)
• Never tie a rope around a tree trunk
• Avoid vehicle or equipment impacts to the trunk of a tree

If your tree’s bark has been severely damaged, have it inspected by an arborist who can then recommend a course of action.

Root Rot – Root rot can occur from poorly drained soil or disease. The symptoms are very similar to those of girdling:

• Leaves will turn yellow or brown and fall from the tree
• Twigs and branches will become brittle
• Trees with root rot may begin to lean or fall

If you suspect that your tree is dying from root rot, have it inspected immediately. In most cases, the tree will need to be removed.

Do Trees Die of Old Age

Yes. Trees are long-lived but will eventually die from natural causes or human actions. When trees get sick, they can be diagnosed, and with early treatment, pruning, or felling, can be saved or prevented from harming surrounding trees, structures, and people.

How to Avoid Tree Health Problems

One of the best ways to keep your tree healthy throughout its lifetime is to care for it from the time it is planted properly. You can avoid the majority of tree health problems by:

• Knowing the species and its requirements
• Planting it in an optimally lit and protected location
• Giving it proper watering intervals and fertilization
• Making sure the soil meets the needs of the species
• Seasonally pruning unwanted or infected growth
• Protecting its bark from impacts and damaging vines
• Having the tree inspected annually by an arborist

Preventative measures will help you avoid significant tree health issues, along with promoting a healthy ecosystem in your yard or landscape.

Is My Tree Dying

A dead or dying tree is capable of spreading disease and insect infestation to entire communities of trees. When these trees fall, they can cause catastrophic damages to structures, wildlife, and people.

In this article, you discovered how to tell if a tree is troubled, dying, or dead and what you can do to either save it or eliminate a potential threat.

When a tree problem is detected, immediate action can save you from significant damages, costly repairs, and even loss of life.

Sources:
https://forestpests.community.uaf.edu/lessons/module-2-wood-boring-insects/
http://www.fao.org/3/y5041e/y5041e09.htm
http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/universal/printedprogpageshow.cfm?pagenum=6467&progkey=2080&county=5576

Fast Tree Removal Services Atlanta

3379 Peachtree Road #555a, Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 220-9965

Fast Tree Removal Services Dunwoody

2111 Peachford Cir, Dunwoody, GA 30338
(404) 220-9963

To view the orignal version of this post, visit: http://www.fasttreeremovalatlanta.com/how-do-i-know-if-my-tree-dying

Will This Green Mold (Lichens) Growing on My Tree Kill It

Do you have a mold-like greenish substance growing on your tree trunk or branches? Don’t break out the pruning shears so fast, you may be surprised to discover what it is and what it means.

fasttreeremovalatlanta.com gathered the following information about what lichens are, where they grow, and what they mean.

What are Lichens

Lichens are formed from a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and an algal partner and can grow on nearly any surface.

The Fungal Partner – The filaments of the fungal partner (mycobiont) surround and grow into the algal partner’s cells. The fungal partner represents the majority of the lichen’s physical bulk and shape, forms the outer surface for protection and support, and collects both moisture and minerals from the air.

The Algal Partner – The algal partner (phycobiont) possesses chlorophyll used to make food when exposed to sunlight, thus creating the symbiotic relationship needed for the two species to thrive as one.

Lichens differ from plants in that they do not have leaves, stems, roots, or a waxy outer surface to regulate its water content. When dew, mist, and rain are present, the lichens continue to grow. In summer or during dry periods, they will lie dormant waiting for the next rainfall.

When moisture is unavailable, lichens may suffer a complete loss of body water and become brittle. During these times, pieces may break or flake off, settling in a new location, and later growing into new lichens. When moisture becomes available again, they quickly absorb water, becoming rehydrated, soft, and fleshy again.

Lichens can adapt to their location and can be found in nearly any environment growing on trees, stones, wooden decks, glass, and any other surface that combines sunlight and moisture.

Lichens on Trees

Lichens are commonly found on trees and are frequently misinterpreted as being a sign of decay within the tree. Unlike the fungi that feed off of a tree’s decaying body, the rhizines (multicellular root-like structures) of lichen only serve to anchor its body to the tree, rarely penetrating the bark completely.

Lichens do not feed on a tree’s nutrients. They are a self-sufficient organism, producing their own food, therefore doing no harm to the tree.

The confusion begins when a tree starts to die. As the tree loses its foliage, more sunlight becomes available to the lichens coincidentally, and their growth rate increases. Due to this coincidence, many believe that the mere presence of lichens is a signal of a diseased or a dying tree.

A diseased, stressed, or dying tree may have both lichens and unrelated fungal organisms growing on the same portion of the tree. In such cases, you or your tree expert may need to prune away the affected or dead tissue for the benefit of the rest of the tree. In making these types of decisions, you need to be aware of the unique nature of lichens and the difference between those fungi participating within a lichen symbiotic relationship and other fungi separately feeding on the tree.

You can learn more about Warning Signs, Problems and Solutions for Trees by reading fasttreeremovalatlanta.com/warning-signs-problems-solutions-atlanta-trees

Fungus and Lichen Identification

There are several differences between fungi and lichen on trees. You can identify a fungus or fungal infection on a tree by:

• Mushroom conks (reproductive structure) on the tree.
• Swollen areas of bark
• Dark streaks are oozing or running down the tree trunk from a knot or wound.
• Cankers are forming on branches or trunk.
• Carpenter ants are establishing a nest within the tree.
• Extreme leaf drop (out of season).
• Chlorosis (loss of green color) of part of or the entire crown.

You can identify a lichen on a tree by:

• A flat green, bluish, or greyish growth along the surface of tree bark.
• The absence of symptoms of a fungal infection.

There is little cause for concern when lichens are found growing on the bark of a tree, but when a fungus is thriving on a tree trunk or branch, immediate action must be taken to prune, treat, or remove the tree.

Benefits and Uses of Lichens

While lichens may seem to provide little benefit, they are widely studied and used in ways that may surprise you. Lichens are consumed by animals like deer, goats, and caribou, while many species of birds use lichen materials to help build their nests.

Certain species of lichens are used to produce antibiotics, while others are used to create the miniature landscape for scale sized building models and model railroad tracks.

Lichens found on healthy trees should be welcomed as positive indicators of lower levels of air pollution and good quality atmospheric conditions. Lichens tend to die off in overly polluted areas.

Trees and Lichens

Lichens growing on trees may seem like a sign of trouble, when in fact, they are a sign of clean air and do little to no harm to the tree.

In this article, you discovered that lichens growing on trees do not represent a threat to the tree’s health, their benefits to medicine, how to tell them apart from a fungal infection, and their use in creating model landscapes.

Knowing how to identify lichens on your trees will save you from worrying about the dangers of a fungal infection. Furthermore, their presence should be heralded as a testament to the good air quality of your neighborhood.

Sources:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/what_are_lichens_and_what_are_they_doing_on_my_tree
https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/fungi/lichens/lichenlh.html
https://njaes.rutgers.edu/fs1205/

Fast Tree Removal Services Atlanta

3379 Peachtree Road #555a, Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 220-9965

Fast Tree Removal Services Dunwoody

2111 Peachford Cir, Dunwoody, GA 30338
(404) 220-9963

To view the orignal version of this post, visit: http://www.fasttreeremovalatlanta.com/will-this-green-mold-lichens-kill-my-tree

How Trees Recover from Wounds and Pruning

Every time you improperly prune your tree, you could be killing it. However, as soon as you make the cut, your tree begins a long and fantastic recovery process.

Trees don’t heal, they seal. Compartmentalization is the process trees use to isolate split bark, pruned limbs, and even severe weather damage. As long as you have correctly pruned your tree or dressed its wounds, its natural process takes over and slowly finishes its recovery.

fasttreeremovalatlanta.com gathered information about tree bark damage, pruning, how they recover from potentially life-threatening wounds, and what you can do to help them throughout the recovery process.

Tree Wounds and Infection

There are many ways a tree can sustain life-threatening damage, and in some cases, we accidentally cause it ourselves. The following are ways trees can be damaged, get infected, and how to help them recover:

Storm Damage – During severe storms, airborne objects may strike and damage limbs or the bark on the trunk. Such damage leaves trees vulnerable to infection, infestation, and can quickly lead to the decline of its health and death.

Solution: For damaged limbs or branches, they should be pruned back to a point before the damage begins or in extreme cases, all the way back to the trunk just outside the branch collar.

Solution: For damaged bark, if the bark is still on the tree, use a tree wrap to hold it in place while the tree repairs itself. If the damage has left an open wound, trim off any jagged edges and let the tree close off the area naturally.

If an area of the bark has been damaged which circles more than 2/3 of the trunk (at the same height), this damage will likely lead to the girdling and death of the tree. In such cases, contact a tree professional to evaluate the tree and offer a course of action.

Read more about handling tree bark damage at fasttreeremovalatlanta.com/handling-tree-bark-damage

Pruning Wounds – The act of pruning causes a wound with each limb or branch removed from a tree. The majority of pruning activities are meant to encourage growth in sparse areas of the crown, remove unwanted growth, and remove parts of the tree that are dead, damaged, infested, or infected.

For all limbs pruned back to the trunk, they should be removed without cutting or damaging the branch collar.

These cuts should be made smooth and flat, haphazardly pruning a tree may lead to fungal infection, insect infestation, declining health, and death.

Without following the 3-cut method when pruning medium and large-sized branches, the risk of tearing the bark from the underneath of the branch and down the trunk is significantly increased.

Another common hazard when pruning is the unintentional infection of the tree by using contaminated pruning equipment.

Solution: To avoid accidental contamination, sanitize all pruning equipment after each use. Dip the tools in a solution of 70% isopropyl alcohol or 10% chlorine bleach (household bleach).

Solution: To avoid stripping bark when pruning, follow the 3-cut method as described below:

Cut #1 known as a relief cut should be 6 to 12 inches away from the trunk on the underside of the branch and travel 1/4 of the way through the branch (this serves as a stopping point if the bark should tear as the branch falls).

Cut #2 should be 6 to 12 inches further out from cut #1. This is a top-down cut and severs the branch from the tree.

Cut #3 occurs flush with the branch collar, removing the remaining portion of the branch.

Read more on the best time for pruning, cutting and emergency tree removal at fasttreeremovalatlanta.com/when-tree-pruning-cutting-emergency-removal-atlanta-ga

How Trees Heal – Compartmentalization

Trees do not heal wounds the way other living organisms do, they seal them. Since trees cannot replace damaged tissue, they have developed a clever way of dealing with potentially life-threatening wounds. Through a process called compartmentalization, a tree seals off damaged or diseased areas by forming walls around it, literally encasing it, allowing the tree to grow around it and flourish.

Compartmentalization Of Disease In Trees, also known as (CODIT), is a concept researched and studied by Dr. Alex Shigo. According to CODIT, there are four walls of protection created as cells modify themselves in response to wounds and infection:

Wall #1 This wall plugs normally conductive vascular tissue above and below the wound, stopping the potential spread of infected or diseased tissue within the cambium layer of the tree.

Wall #2 This wall is formed by the thick-walled latewood growth ring interior and exterior to the wound.

Wall #3 This wall is formed by ray cells which form a maze-like barrier to the spread of decay. Some of these cells undergo a chemical alteration, making them toxic to some microorganisms.

Wall #4 The strongest of the four walls, also known as the barrier wall (or barrier zone), is made up of specialized woody tissue on the exterior of the tree. This wall closes a wound with new wood.

This process can be seen on trees that have been pruned or damaged as growth which slowly encloses the wounded area. For a tree to completely compartmentalize and seal off the exterior of a severed branch, it may take upwards of 15 to 20 years. However, within the tree, this containment process is fast-paced and extremely effective.

3 years after branch removal

5 years after branch removal

10 years after branch removal

20 years after branch removal

How to Help A Tree Recover from Wounds

After pruning or dressing a tree wound, you may be inclined to use a tree wound sealer or tree wound paint. However, it is not necessary for small and medium sized cuts. As long as proper pruning methods are adhered to, the tree will do the rest of the work itself.

When a tree wound sealer is used for excessively large cuts or wounds, the sealer must allow the wood below it to breathe and should not be applied to the extremity of the cut (where the bark is), as the compartmentalization process begins immediately after the wound has occurred.

The best way to help a tree recover from being wounded or pruned is to ensure proper fertilization, watering, and mulching methods.

Healthy Trees and Compartmentalization

Avoid inflicting life-threatening damage to your tree by following proper pruning methods and allowing it to do what it does naturally – compartmentalize.

In this article, you discovered how trees use the process of compartmentalization to recover from bark damage, wounds, and pruning.

When your trees have been pruned or damaged, your efforts to encourage their health through watering, fertilization, and mulching will aid them in completing their own recovery process through compartmentalizing damaged or infected areas.

Sources:
https://northernwoodlands.org/articles/article/woods-whys-how-trees-heal
https://articles.extension.org/pages/73762/how-do-trees-heal-after-they-have-been-wounded
https://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-and-plant-advice/horticulture-care/trunk-wounds-and-decay
https://forestry.usu.edu/trees-cities-towns/tree-care/tree-injuries

Fast Tree Removal Services Atlanta

3379 Peachtree Road #555a, Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 220-9965

Fast Tree Removal Services Dunwoody

2111 Peachford Cir, Dunwoody, GA 30338
(404) 220-9963

To view the orignal version of this post, visit: http://www.fasttreeremovalatlanta.com/how-trees-recover-wounds-pruning

Warning Signs, Problems and Solutions for Atlanta Trees

There are several dangers facing trees in your Atlanta landscape. The dense foliage within Atlanta, “the city in a forest,” is prone to facing health problems and can need your help.

Infestation, disease, and construction mishaps are causes that weaken and kill trees when they are not properly looked after. Your immediate action when a tree is in decline can be the difference in it thriving or dying.

This fasttreeremovalatlanta.com article identifies tree health symptoms and causes like construction damage, insect infestations, powdery mildew, and then offers easy to perform solutions for each of them.

Declining Tree Health Symptoms

When trees are in trouble, they typically exhibit obvious symptoms telling you that there is a much more significant problem at hand. Some of the more common symptoms requiring immediate attention are:

Dieback – This is a symptom of, soil compaction, infestation, disease, or girdling and occurs when the foliage, branches, and twigs begin to die from the outside in towards the trunk.

If not quickly addressed, large branches and entire portions of the tree will die and become brittle, potentially falling without forewarning.

To identify an insect infestation, look for entry and exit points appearing as rounded holes with either sawdust (pitch) or sap blow the hole.

Stunted Growth – When a tree is under stress from an insect infestation or disease, smaller foliage and reduced growth may occur. Often, the crown will be disproportionate with smaller and fewer leaves on one side.

If left untreated, the tree’s health will continue to decline, leaving it susceptible to multiple infestations, and eventually lead to its death.

Premature Leaf Drop or Late bloom – A deciduous tree stressed by compacted soil, severe infestation, disease, or partial girdling may drop its foliage in late summer before other trees, or may not bloom until late in the spring.

Stressed evergreen trees may lose more foliage than usual in late summer and fall, along with signs of chlorosis (yellowing of foliage).

This is an alarming sign which underscores the severity of what is happening within the tree and must be quickly addressed to save it.

Drooping Crown – A common symptom of soil compaction is when your tree’s crown appears to droop, or the foliage appears to be wilted.

This soil condition may cause irreparable damage to the tree’s root system resulting in hydraulic failure (when the tree can no longer transport water and nutrients to and from the roots) and eventual death.

Tree Problem – Construction Damage

Construction damage can be soil compaction from transiting or parked vehicles and heavy storage or waste containers left under a tree. Bark damage leading to partial or complete girdling may result from leaning equipment or being struck by vehicles.

These issues are not limited to construction sites, the integrity of the soil and trunk of your tree are vital to its survival and should always be protected.

Construction Damage Solution – The City of Atlanta has specific guidelines on tree protection for construction sites which must be implemented. The failure of a company or person to adequately protect trees on a commercial or private construction site may be met with steep fines, and in the case of a lost tree, a tree recompense and fine may be assessed.

In the case of soil compaction, it can be challenging to save a tree’s roots. Depending on the size of the tree, 15 inches to 3 feet of new topsoil may be required to counteract the effects of it.

Read more about reversing soil compaction here ecolandscaping.org/01/soil/dealing-with-soil-compaction/

In the case of bark damage and girdling, if the damage is severe enough that it cuts through the xylem and phloem around the majority or entire circumference of the trunk, the tree may already be dead.

In situations with lesser damage, bark patches have a better chance of restoring the flow of water and nutrients from the crown and roots. Uncover further information on bark damage here fasttreeremovalatlanta.com/handling-tree-bark-damage

Tree Problem – Insect Infestation

The healthier a tree is, the easier it can repel attacks from boring insects. Likewise, these pests will typically target trees in a weakened state of health. However, when the insect population grows and trees become limited, they will target and successfully invade healthy trees too.

Some beetle species will burrow into the heartwood and nest deep within the tree. Beetles carry fungal spores with them which germinate within the tree providing nutrients for their offspring and ultimately causing a fungal infection which further weakens the tree.

As their numbers grow, infestations can easily devastate entire urban landscapes, inflicting irreparable damage to multiple trees of all sizes and ages.

Insect Infestation Solution – When caught in its early stages, an insect infestation is easily managed through the use of insecticides, traps, and the removal of infected limbs or the source tree in its entirety.

In any case of an insect infestation, call a tree professional for expert advice on types of treatment and how to protect surrounding trees. The web, in addition to the insect can lead to tree disease or death. To learn more, read fasttreeremovalatlanta.com/insect-webs-tree-decay-disease-death

Tree Problem – Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew is a fast-spreading fungal disease affecting a wide range of trees and plants. It commonly has the appearance of white powder stuck to leaves riddled with black spores.

This disease is difficult to control, as it is spread by wind, splashing water, insect, wildlife, or human activity.

In severe cases when enough foliage is covered by the disease, the host tree’s capacity to photosynthesize can be significantly reduced causing deficiencies and weakening the tree’s health, leaving it vulnerable to infestations and other infections.

Powdery Mildew Solution – Halting and preventing powdery mildew can be as easy as watering your trees. The following tips will help you quickly gain control over this disease.

• Neem Oil – Spray affected and surrounding foliage with a neem oil solution (2.5Tbsp per gallon of water) weekly.
• Home Remedy – Spray affected and surrounding foliage with a solution of 1Tbsp of baking soda and 1tsp of liquid dish soap per gallon of water.
• Garden and Pruning Equipment – All equipment used on infected plants and trees should be thoroughly washed then rinsed in a bleach solution (1/8 cup bleach per gallon of water). Alcohol may also be used in place of bleach (1 cup alcohol per gallon of water).

In cases where 25% percent or more of the foliage is infected, call a tree professional to offer suggestions for a more aggressive approach to controlling this disease.

For more on tree disease control and prevention, read fasttreeremovalatlanta.com/5-tree-shrub-disease-prevention-tips

Protecting Atlanta’s Tree Canopy

Don’t let your trees die needlessly. With so many trees in an urban setting, accidents, infections, and infestations are bound to happen, are you ready for them?

In this article, you discovered how to identify the problems and symptoms of a troubled tree, like construction damage, girdling, insect infestations, powdery mildew, and how to effectively treat each of them.

Your failure to act when your trees are injured or ill can result in their death and toppling. Avoid catastrophic damages and potential fines or recompense from the City of Atlanta by taking action while you still can.

Sources:
http://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1238&title=Common%20Landscape%20Diseases%20in%20Georgia
http://newswire.caes.uga.edu/story.html?storyid=5161&story=Fig%20Pest
https://www.atlantaga.gov/Home/ShowDocument?id=1538

Fast Tree Removal Services Atlanta

3379 Peachtree Road #555a, Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 220-9965

Fast Tree Removal Services Dunwoody

2111 Peachford Cir, Dunwoody, GA 30338
(404) 220-9963

To view the orignal version of this post, visit: http://www.fasttreeremovalatlanta.com/warning-signs-problems-solutions-atlanta-trees