How Do I Know if the Trees in My Yard Are Healthy?
Most homeowners know the obvious signs of a tree in severe decline, like rotting, pest infestations, and dead limbs. Unfortunately, when a tree has reached that stage, it’s almost always already beyond saving. Although subtle, trees will provide clues as to their overall health — you just have to know what to look for.
Signs of a Healthy Tree
If your trees on your lot sound like the list below, congrats: you’re a great tree owner! Your trees will benefit from a continued investment in their health with an ongoing plan for periodic nutrient boosts. With a product like Rootivate, you can even enhance the appearance of a healthy tree — bigger canopy, denser foliage, and increased seasonal growth overall.
Healthy central “leader”
Most tree species thrive with one stable center column leading to the aerial spread of branches. Grounded in the trunk, even trees with a very wide canopy can withstand the weight of their branches. Trees with divisions in the trunk, however, may result in splitting and leave the tree’s center open to irritants like pests and disease.
Trunk, Buds, and twig growth
A tree’s real job in the world is to grow. Although it’s not often noticeable to the naked eye, a healthy tree’s trunk circumference expands every year! Measuring periodically and noticing small increments of change is a good sign. Bud and twig growth is much more visible for tree owners looking to gauge their trees’ health. Year over year, you can measure the distance between the nodules on an individual twig to assess how much growth has happened over a season.
Green growth beneath branch Bark
Did you know that living and dead branches have different wood quality? Gently scraping a bendy, thriving branch will reveal greenish-tinted bark, indicating new growth. Dead branches, by comparison, aren’t pliable at all; instead, when pressure is applied, they’ll snap at pressure points.
Bark stability
There are some tree varietals that lose bark season to season, like birch trees. Otherwise, any bark loss is a red flag. A healthy tree’s bark is unblemished, unmarked by moss or fungi, and solid (no major holes).
Leaf quality
Outside of the seasonal behaviors of deciduous trees, major changes to a tree’s leaves — color, shape, or volume — should be a cause for concern. The natural transition from bright green growth in the spring to yellow and orange leaves in the fall is something most people watch for, but yellow leaves or variegated leaves (brown striping or spots) is a sign of nutrient deficiency and encroachment on other resources. Atypical shapes or stunted leaves (obviously not new, baby leaves) can indicate disease, as well.
Signs of a Sick Tree
On the flip side, if you’re seeing symptoms that are more like what we’ve described below, it’s vital that you get in touch with our team. Your tree may be at risk of death, and if not, it’s in the stages of severe decline. We’re proud to offer a product with a success rate of over 95% — close to 100% when treatment starts early! Rootivate may be your tree’s best chance at survival.
Blemishes in the limbs/trunk
Much like skin, bark is often an indication of something not quite right with a tree’s chemistry. Holes and nicks made by animals can leave the sensitive inside vulnerable to disease and pests, but holes and discoloration produced by the tree itself indicates disease and decay.
Bare branches out of season
Leaf density varies seasonally, but seeing bare patches on your tree out of season — especially for trees that don’t experience significant change, like evergreen pine species — mean that something is awry. Low or absent foliage density can be caused by encroachment of resources (nutrients, light) or damage from pests and animals.
Wilted or discolored leaves (including with holes or irregular shapes)
If you’re seeing yellow, something’s usually wrong. Nutrient deficiency, lack of hydration, and developing disease can all manifest as yellowing or variegated leaves (brown striping or spots). Some tree species, like Live Oaks, should actually never lose their green sheen — they don’t experience any seasonal change at all. It’s vital to know what’s healthy for the individual varieties on your lot. Assuming your tree doesn’t need any help leaves it vulnerable, and often, it can be much more difficult to recover from loss than to prevent it.
Diagnose threats and begin to save your tree before it’s too late.
If any of your trees are experiencing the following symptoms, they’re already in danger of dying. Meet with our team so they can help you take measures to counteract damage.