| How
Can You Tell if Your Tree is Healthy? |
|
|
| Regular
inspections are an important part of plant health care. You should
be familiar enough with your tree that if something is out of the
ordinary, you will be able to notice a difference. |
|
|
| |
| What
to look for in an inspection: |
| Four
signs of a tree’s health and vigor are: |
| |
|
|
|
New
leaves or buds |
| |
|
|
|
Good
leaf size |
| |
|
|
|
Regular
twig growth |
| |
|
|
|
An
absense of crown dieback (the gradual death of the upper part
of the tree). |
|
|
|
| |
| What
do the signs tell you? |
| |
| A
reduction in the extension of shoots (new growing parts), such as buds or
new leaves, is a fairly reliable cue that the tree's health has recently
changed. To evaluate this, compare the growth of the shoots over the past
three years. Determine if there is a reduction in the tree's typical growth
pattern. |
| |
 |
Further
signs of poor tree health are trunk decay and/or crown dieback. These
symptoms often indicate problems that began several years before.
Loose bark or deformed growths, such as trunk conks (mushrooms), are
common signs of stem decay. |
|
| |
| Any
abnormalities found during these inspections, including insect activity
and spotted, deformed, discolored, or dead leaves and twigs, should
be noted and watched closely. If you are uncertain as to what should
be done, report your findings to your local
arborist or other tree care professional for advice on possible
treatment. |
|
|
|
| |
| For
more information on how to handle problems your tree might encounter,
go here. |
| |
|
|
