What's wrong with my tree?

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By Traverso Tree Service, Inc

It’s springtime, trees are leafing out, making a big come back from the dormant winter season, or are they?

“What’s wrong with my tree? It leafed out weeks ago and now, all of sudden, half of the leaves are turning brown and it appears to be dying.”

“The new leaves are falling off my tree. I shouldn’t have to rake leaves during spring, should I?”

“The tree was doing great last year, now it appears it is dying from the top down.”

“Our tree doesn’t look right. I hope it is not dying. We love this tree!”

As arborists we appreciate the question “What is wrong with my tree?” It tells us that the client cares about their tree and is observant enough to realize when something might possibly be wrong. So what IS wrong with my tree?

1. It is diseased. Contrary to popular belief not all tree diseases are fatal. There are a couple of common diseases that are very prevalent during spring, especially if it is a wet one. Anthracnose, a foliar fungus that attacks the newly emerging leaves and is spread by water, is very common on ash and sycamore trees. Leaf spot is a common foliar fungus that attacks many different trees but can often defoliate pear trees, both fruiting and non-fruiting. If the leaves become so infested with the disease that the tree will shed them (hence you having to rake leaves in spring!) And produce new ones. Both diseases are wet weather diseases and cannot survive in hot, dry weather. So once the days get longer and hotter, these diseases will die out and, generally speaking, the trees will bounce back. That being said, there are diseases that can kill a tree if left untreated. And some diseases have no treatment except to plant disease resistant species.

2. It is infested with ‘bugs”. The good news is that most insects that infest trees are not fatal, but they can be a nuisance. Aphids or white flies can produce copious amounts of sticky honey dew, that clients mistakenly think is sap, and will “drip” on the car, patio furniture

or whatever happens to be under the tree. The insects don’t harm the tree, but the mess they create can be very annoying. Oak moths can infest an oak tree with so many caterpillars that you can hear crunching as they feed on the foliage. Again, not fatal to the tree, but they can become a nuisance when they drop into guests’ drinking glasses on the deck under said tree! The elm beetle by itself is not harmful to elm trees, but if it happens to be carrying Dutch elm disease, then there is cause for concern, as Dutch elm disease can kill elm trees.

3. Poor cultural care. But some trees in spring are not looking good because of care over the past 12 months or longer. Anytime a tree’s foliage is not in perfect condition, it signals to the arborist that the tree is under stress. A quick look can sometimes indicate what might be the problem. New construction for an addition, swimming pool or new landscape tells the arborist that roots may have been damaged. A brown lawn tells him that there has been a change in watering. Excess mulch or soil piled up against the trunk says the grade has been changed and may be suffocating the roots. When a tree is under stress, it becomes weakened and more prone to insect attack or disease. Eliminate these stresses and the trees may bounce back. Whatever changes you notice with your tree, however big or small, it is worth investigating to make sure it does not turn into a bigger problem that can’t be fixed.

All Estimates Given by a Certified Arborist FREE ESTIMATES • LOCAL • SINCE 1981 925-930-7901 WWW.TRAVERSOTREE.COM