We’ve heard of evergreen trees living for hundreds if not thousands of years so we never assume are a tree is just going to up and die one day. But, different weather factors and environmental issues can cause a tree to get sick and actually die. So, what causes these afflictions and how can we prevent them?
Bad weather
Bad weather can cause numerous issues with trees and plant life on your property. Although the Pacific Northwest is not known for severe storms such as hurricanes or tornadoes, we can have some pretty severe windstorms and rainstorms from time to time, especially this time of year. When can tear tree limbs off and rain can actually drown the roots. After a storm has come you should inspect every tree around your home to make sure it survived, is not a hazard, and has stayed securely in the ground.
Be concerned of sudden branch drop
I’ll never forget looking out into my own backyard to see the entire groundswell and deflate after months of saturated rainstorms followed by a severe windstorm. I was half nervous that the tree would topple over into my neighbor’s yard, but luckily it didn’t go anywhere. It’s important to be very aware of the weather and what has happened to a tree. Like I mentioned, weeks of heavy rain can saturate the ground making the roots very fragile. All it would take is a strong wind to uproot the entire tree and blow it over. If you’ve noticed this, it might be time to either trim the tree slightly or wind to sail it, meaning sending it out so the air goes through the tree, rather than it hitting the tree like a brick wall and pushing it over.
Read More: When Nature can be a Mother
Treat diseases
Diseases are less noticeable than physical outward damage, at least at first. You may not know what tree is dying from a disease until it’s too late. You’ll first want to look at the bark. Does it show signs or symptoms of it being sick? Look at the leaves and the trunk and if you see mushrooms or other fungus growing around your tree, it could indicate a disease that has infected the tree. Great for the mushrooms, not so great for the tree. If the bark is thinning or gone in places, it could be another sign that the tree is diseased. It’s important to get a tree specialist out there immediately to verify the stability and integrity of the tree.
Bad pruning
Pruning is usually a good thing, unless it’s done very poorly. If you do it wrong, you can run the risk of harming your tree. Unless you know exactly how to trim a large tree, it’s best leaving this up to the experts.
Too much or too little water
Giving your tree too much water can be just as problematic as not watering it and not. Each tree needs different amounts of water so if you have a special tree in the backyard, do a little bit of research on exactly how much water that tree needs. Fruit trees might need more water than a dogwood or a for tree. Specialized trees might need even less water, so it’s important to know the water levels of your trees to be able to care for them in the right way.
For more information on tree care, disease, or if you just have questions about your tree, give us a call at any time.
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