Trees are crucial in any landscape. They just have a way of bringing a unique type of beauty to your property and in a world where the threat of climate change is real, it’s always nice to plant one more tree if you can. 

However, just like any other plant, trees require care too. Right from the time they are planted until when they fully mature, you will need to give them a certain level of attention to make sure they grow fine and healthy. 

Despite this, even though trees are low maintenance and pretty much immune to tough weather and pests, sometimes they may get sick. If the symptoms are caught on time, it’s possible to save a sick tree and bring it back to its old vibrant self. But if you wait too long, it will die and there’s no coming back from that. 

Here are a few general dying tree symptoms that may suggest your tree needs attention:

Very Few Healthy Leaves Left 

One of the clearest signs of life in any tree is the number of fresh leaves it has. Trees will naturally shed off leaves to free up more room for others to grow in their place, and there’s nothing wrong with this. In fact, it’s a natural process. 

The problem is when the tree sheds off its leaves and nothing grows in their place. Weathered leaves are the most obvious signs a tree is dying and may also suggest that your tree is not getting enough nutrients. Make sure you act quickly when you see this.

There’s Too Much Deadwood Everywhere 

If there are certain parts of your tree that are not getting enough nourishment, they will start to die off slowly. Eventually, you will end up with a lot of deadwood on your hands

Deadwood is a common feature in trees, especially in those that have stood for a long time. But if the deadwood becomes dominant in most parts of your tree, it could be a sign that the health of the plant is failing. When that happens, extra measures to fix the dying oak tree should be taken.

Leans All Over Sudden 

In most cases, trees are supposed to stand tall and straight. As your tree grows older, it may generally develop a small lean but this is something that happens slowly. If your tree has all over sudden started to lean, it could mean that it’s starting to lose some of its strength. 

Trees that lean also tend to be structurally weak and this may affect their growth in the future. The best way to address this would be to try to revitalize your tree with super nutrients. You can call local tree services for more options to save it or to simply remove it before any property damage occurs. 

Pay Attention to Critters and Fungus 

Dying trees are the perfect breeding ground for fungi and critters unless tree removal is done. Deadwood, especially when it’s already drying, provides an accommodating environment for microbial action too. 

If your tree is all over sudden starting to attract critters and fungi, you may want to start paying closer attention to it. Critters like bark beetles and carpenter ants, in particular, are going to thrive in weak and dying trees. If the bugs are encroaching on your tree in droves, it’s time to get worried.

The Bark Starts to Crack and Brittle 

The tree bark offers support for the entire tree and it’s the outer protective layer that keeps your tree safe from the elements.

For a dying tree, cracks may start to appear around the trunk even after tree trimming. The cracks could be small or even cut deep into the whole tree but generally, they will progress over time. 

If the issue is not addressed, the structural strength of your tree will be affected and soon enough, the tree will become brittle and wear off in no time.

Call a local tree services company to request a free quote to save or remove one from your property!