Trees are living organisms, so that means that they can get “sick” just like humans and animals can. A disease or other tree problem might take a while to show up because of the sheer size of the tree, and once you notice a symptom, it could be too late to restore the tree.
A professional arborist from HI Tree Trimming can help you diagnose and treat tree issues so that there is a much greater chance of saving the tree. Learn about our service here. Not only can an arborist keep a tree from dying, but they can also help trees get more healthy growth and bloom more flowers or fruit with professional tree trimming.
Have you noticed a tree on your lawn that has always seemed healthy but suddenly looks like something is wrong? In the next paragraphs, we’ll explain some of the most typical tree issues and what these symptoms mean.
If you notice any of these things on any of the trees on your property, act fast to have the best chance of saving the tree and the ones nearby it.
Tree Diseases & Common Problems
These 7 things are the most frequent problems addressed by certified arborists in Hawaii. Once you think one of these things is wrong with your tree, contact someone with the training and equipment to help!
Tree Diseases
Leaf Rust – Leaf rust is a fungus that is common in both plants and trees. The name comes from the brown and yellow spots this disease produces on the leaves.
Leaf rust is bad because it prevents the leaves’ photosynthesis, the process by which it breathes. Leaf rust can be tended to with fungicides and selective tree pruning of the diseased leaves. It could be necessary to cut off entire limbs with leaf rust.
Witches’ Broom – This common disease results in a large grouping of twigs, dead leaves and branches that form a a broom shape. It is caused by insects, unusually rainy weather or fungus. The formation of a clump of twigs and leaves is the tree’s reaction to infection or danger.
Some cases of Witches’ Broom are fatal for the tree, while others are simply considered a growth malformation. A tree care professional can tell you for sure.
Mildew – Mildew is a type of fungus that grows on just about anything in wet conditions, but even when the moist conditions are gone, mildew can continue to thrive. Mildew usually appears as a powdery texture, usually white, and it often appears on the leaves of the tree first.
The trick to eliminating mildew is to apply a fungicide that contains sulfur. This will treat the existing mildew and help to stop future mildew on the tree. You might also need to trim the tree to remove branches, fruit, flowers and leaves that have been affected by the mildew
Gall – Gall is a type of tree disease that appears when insects build small nests on the leaves or twigs of a tree to leave their eggs in. Most galls are not harmful to the tree, but they are not attractive.
Gall will appear as bumps on the tree, in varying sizes. They are often white, brown, gray or some shade in between.
It is not necessary to treat the tree if there are galls, but they can affect the growth of new trees. Treat galls by killing the insects. You should also clean out from under the tree when the leaves fall off, since this is where the pests live during winter.
Other Tree Problems
Improper Trimming – There’s an art to tree pruning, as well as many types, and if you aren’t sure what you’re doing, you could damage the tree beyond recovery. Consider the type of tree, season and other factors. Under-pruning (or a lack of pruning at all) can be just as big of a problem. Only an experienced arborist should be trusted to prune trees in order to keep them healthy.
Lack of Water – Young trees can be significantly affected by drought. If you plant new trees on your property, you will probably have to supplement how much water they get from rainfall. A tree that is not getting enough water will have its growth stunted. The first sign you are likely to noticed is scorched or dry leaves. Find more tips for new trees here.
Too Much Sun – Do your planning before planting trees in a full-sun area of your property. Most species of trees can handle it just fine, but too much sun can happen to any tree if the sun is harsh for a long period of time and rainfall is light. A tree that is getting a lot of sun needs even more water to prevent wilting, drooping leaves.
Certified Arborist Services in Hawaii
An experienced arborist from HI Tree Trimming will be able to quickly diagnose what’s going on with your sick tree and lay out a plan to rescue it if at all possible.
Here is what an arborist is qualified to do:
- Review trees from below and from the limbs of the tree if possible. Climbing into the canopy is often necessary to see exactly what is creating the symptoms.
- Treat your tree through fertilizers and additives in the dirt or solutions sprayed on the leaves. This person will have knowledge about the disease impacting the tree and the best treatments for it.
- Prune trees to get rid of dead or diseased branches and to help healthy growth. Even if heavy trimming is needed, they will know how to remove branches so that the tree can survive both the problem and the trimming process.
- Remove the tree from your property if nothing can be done to save it. The worst case scenario is that the tree is dying, and cutting it down is the only choice to protect your home and surrounding landscape.
Arborists can also inform you about the trees that you have om your property and how to best maintain them so you don’t find yourself in the same situation again.
Some tree diseases look similar to one another, requiring an expert eye to correctly identify and correct the problem. If your trees are looking dry, disfigured or dying, call a certified arborist from HI Tree Trimming for an inspection before it’s too late.
