Trees are living things, so it stands to reason that they can get “sick” like people and animals can. A disease or other tree problem may take a little while to show appear due to the sheer size of the tree, and once you see a symptom, it could be too late to revive the tree.
A professional arborist from AZ Tree Trimming can identify and treat tree issues so that you have a much better chance of keeping the tree. Learn about our service here. Not only can an experienced arborist prevent a tree from dying, but they can also help trees get more healthy growth and more flowers or fruit with professional tree trimming.
Have you noticed a tree on your property that has always seemed OK but suddenly seems like something is wrong? In the next section, 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 on any of the trees on your property, 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 issues encountered by professional arborists in Arizona. Once you think one of these things could be wrong with your tree, reach out to someone with the knowledge and equipment to help!
Tree Diseases
Leaf Rust – Leaf rust is actually a fungus that is common in both plants and trees. The name comes from the brown and yellow spots this disease creates on the leaves.
Leaf rust is dangerous because it inhibits the leaves’ photosynthesis, the process by which it breathes. Leaf rust can be tended to with fungicides and selective tree trimming of the diseased leaves. It could be necessary to remove whole branches with leaf rust.
Witches’ Broom – This common tree disease creates a large grouping of twigs, dead leaves and branches that look like a broom shape. It is caused by insects, unusually wet weather or fungus. The formation of a clump of leaves and twigs is the tree’s reaction to infection or harm.
Some cases of Witches’ Broom are deadly for the tree, others are only considered a growth malformation. An arborist can tell you for sure.
Mildew – Mildew is a type of fungus that grows on just about anything in moist conditions, but even when the moist conditions are over with, mildew can continue to thrive. Mildew usually appears as a powdery texture, usually white, and it often grows on the leaves of the tree first.
The trick to treating mildew is to use a fungicide that includes sulfur. This will eliminate the current mildew and help to prevent future mildew on the tree. You may also need to prune the tree to remove limbs, fruit, flowers and leaves that have been affected by the mildew
Gall – Gall is a type of tree disease that appears when pests or rodents build small nests on the leaves or twigs of a tree to lay 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 various sizes. They can be white, brown, gray or some shade in between.
You do not have to treat the tree if there are galls, but they can inhibit 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 insects live during winter months.
Other Tree Problems
Incorrect Pruning – There’s a science to tree trimming, as well as many types, and if you aren’t sure what to do, 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) can be just as big of an issue. Only a certified arborist should be trusted to trim trees in order to keep them healthy.
Lack of Water – Young trees can be significantly affected by drought. If you decide to plant new trees on your property, you will need to supplement how much water they get from rainfall. A tree that doesn’t get enough water will have its growth inhibited. The first symptom you are likely to noticed is scorched or dry leaves. Find more tips for new trees here.
Too Much Sun – Do some initial planning before planting trees in a sunny area. Most species of trees can handle it without issue, but too much sun can become a problem for any tree if the sun is harsh for an extended period of time and rainfall is light. A tree that is getting excessive sun needs even more water to fight against wilting, drooping leaves.
Certified Arborist Services in Arizona
An experienced arborist from AZ Tree Trimming will quickly diagnose what’s happening with your sick tree and put together a plan to save it if at all possible.
Here are the things 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 leading to the symptoms.
- Treat your tree with fertilizers and additives in the soil or products applied to the leaves. The arborist will have expert knowledge about the disease impacting the tree and the best treatments.
- Prune tree limbs to get rid of dead or diseased branches and to assist healthy growth. Even if heavy trimming is necessary, they will know how to cut off branches so that the tree survives both the issue and the trimming.
- Remove the tree from your yard if nothing can be done to save it. The worst case is that the tree is too far gone, 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 om your property and how to best maintain them so you don’t find yourself in the same situation in the future.
Many tree issues look very similar to each other, requiring an expert eye to correctly determine and treat the issue. If your trees appear to be dry, unhealthy or disfigured, call a professional arborist from AZ Tree Trimming for an inspection before it’s too late.
