Trees are living organisms, so it stands to reason that they can become “sick” like humans and animals can. A disease or other tree problem might take a while to show appear because of the overall size of the tree, and once you notice a symptom, it could be too late to restore the tree.
A certified arborist from WI Tree Trimming can help you diagnose and treat common tree problems so that you have a much greater chance of keeping the tree. Learn about our service here. Not only can an arborist help to stop a tree from dying, but they can also help trees get more healthy growth and bloom more flowers or fruit.
Have you noticed a tree on your property that has always seemed OK but all of the sudden looks like something is wrong? In the next paragraphs, we’ll explain some of the most common tree issues and what these symptoms mean for a tree.
If you see any of these things, act fast for the best chance of saving the tree and the ones around it.
Tree Diseases & Common Problems
These 7 things are the most common problems encountered by certified arborists in Wisconsin. Once you think one of these things could be wrong with your tree, reach out to someone with the training and equipment to help!
Tree Diseases
Leaf Rust – Leaf rust is a fungus that is very common in both trees and plants. The name comes from the brown and yellow spots this disease creates on the leaves.
Leaf rust is dangerous because it interferes with the leaves’ photosynthesis, the process by which it breathes. Leaf rust can be treated with fungicides and selective tree pruning of the diseased leaves. It might be necessary to remove whole branches with leaf rust.
Witches’ Broom – This common disease creates a large mass of twigs, dead leaves and branches that resemble a broom shape. It is caused by insects, unusually rainy weather or fungus. The formation of a clump of leaves and twigs is the tree’s reaction to infection or harm.
Some instances of Witches’ Broom are deadly for the tree, others are just considered a growth malformation. An arborist can tell you for sure.
Mildew – Mildew is a fungus that grows on almost anything in wet conditions, but even when the moist conditions are over with, mildew can continue to thrive. Mildew appears as a powdery texture, typically white, and it often shows up on the leaves of a tree first.
The the best method for treating mildew is to use a fungicide that includes sulfur. This will eliminate the existing mildew and help to stop future mildew growth on the tree. You might also need to prune the tree to remove limbs, fruit, flowers and leaves that have been affected by the mildew
Gall – Gall is a tree disease that occurs when insects build small nests on the leaves or twigs of a tree to leave their eggs in. Most types of galls are not harmful to the tree, but none of them are attractive.
Gall appears as as bumps on the tree, in varying sizes. They are often white, brown, gray or some shade in between.
You do not have to treat the tree for galls, but they can inhibit the growth of young trees. Treat galls by killing the insects. You should also clean out from under the tree after the leaves fall off, since this is where the pests survive during winter.
Other Tree Problems
Improper Pruning – There’s an art to tree pruning, as well as many types, and if you aren’t sure how to do it, you could harm the tree past the point of recovery. Consider the type of tree, season and other factors. Under-pruning (or a lack of pruning at all) is just as big of an issue. Only an experienced arborist should be trusted to trim trees in order to keep them healthy.
Lack of Water – New trees can be severely affected by drought. If you plant new trees on your property, you will probably have to supplement the amount of water they get from rainfall. A tree that doesn’t get enough water will have its growth stunted. The first sign you are likely to see is scorched or dry leaves. Find more tips for new trees here.
Too Much Sun – Do some planning before planting trees in a full-sun area. Most types of trees can handle it just fine, but too much sun can happen to any tree if the sun is harsh for an extended period of time and rainfall is light. A tree that is getting too much sun needs extra water to fight against wilting, drooping leaves.
Certified Arborist Services in Wisconsin
A trained arborist from WI Tree Trimming will quickly diagnose what’s going on with your sick tree and come up with a plan to rescue it.
Here are the things an arborist is trained to do:
- Review trees from the ground and from the branches of the tree if possible. Getting into the canopy is typically necessary to identify exactly what is creating the symptoms.
- Treat your tree through fertilizers and additives in the soil or products applied to the leaves. This person will have expert knowledge about the disease impacting the tree and the best treatments for it.
- Trim tree limbs to eliminate dead or diseased branches and to help healthy growth. Even if heavy pruning is needed, they will know how to remove branches so that the tree can survive both the issue and the pruning process.
- Remove the tree from your property if there is no chance to save it. The worst case is that the tree is dying, and removing it is the best way to protect your property and surrounding landscape.
They can also educate you about the other trees that you have and how to best maintain them so you don’t return to the same situation again.
Some tree diseases look very similar to each other, requiring a professional eye to accurately diagnose and treat the issue. If your trees appear to be dry, disfigured or dying, call a professional arborist from WI Tree Trimming for an inspection before it’s too late for your tree.
