Trees have always been welcomed in communities. Not only are they pleasing to the eye, but they also serve as excellent shade when the sun is particularly harsh that day. And in some cases, certain species of trees bear fruits that many would enjoy.
That’s why trees make for an excellent addition to the property. Given how a well-taken-care-of tree could improve one’s quality of life, your property value will improve once they’re part of the landscape. Hence, planting a tree and waiting for it to grow would be worth the wait.
But despite their many benefits, trees are fully capable of risking the safety of everyone within their vicinity. Because similar to other plants, they’re susceptible to factors that could affect their health until they reach their end. When that happens, dead trees often spread diseases in your plants and cause incidents that might compromise other people’s health.
Inspecting trees is often an overlooked practice. Since not many people know where to look, it’s easy to miss signs of disease in your trees. Here’s how you can determine the health of your trees:
- Check The Root System
Professionals from tree service Albuquerque and other plant care services often consider the root system the best place to start when inspecting trees. Working your way from the bottom to the top is more efficient than the other way around. Moreover, the root system acts as the passageway for nutrients to travel from the soil to the tree.
Given its purpose, some health conditions that occur to the tree often begin at the root system. To know if it’s healthy, observe the surrounding ground. Structural roots are ones you’ll find on the surface. Aside from nourishing the tree, they carry most of its weight to keep it standing. Once you see the surrounding soil is cracked or the soil is raised, something must’ve disturbed them, which could cause uprooting.
Many factors could lead to uprooting, but a common one is in construction work. Heavy equipment digging up soil can damage and sever the roots, especially without performing a proper ground check. When that happens, the rest of the tree will be affected, and even the slightest breeze or rain shower could topple it unexpectedly.
Other natural enemies of trees are pests and fungi. Considering fungi thrive from dead organisms, seeing them on the root system doesn’t bode well for the tree. As for pests, they typically hide inside the tree itself or somewhere near and take down healthy trees.
- Pay Attention To The Trunk
While the root system anchors the tree to the ground, tree trunks serve as the central body for trees. Given how it takes up most of the tree, a healthy tree trunk is sturdy enough to support the crown while retaining an upright posture.
Having multiple tree trunks doesn’t mean they’re doubling the support. With so many trunks connected to the wood, that point of connection has the least integrity in the entire tree, making it susceptible to splitting open eventually.
Besides having multiple trunks, check the condition of the bark. Its skin mustn’t come loose or peel off outside the tree’s growing season. You must check holes or open wounds immediately. Otherwise, insects and diseases might enter them and infect the tree.
- Examine Branches
Bare branches are one of the most obvious signs of an affected tree, especially during seasons when trees are supposed to flourish. Another way to see if the branches are still healthy is by scraping some of their skin off with your nail. Branches must be green to signify they’re still alive. However, if they’re brown, they’re close to wilting or have already died. Moreover, living branches are flexible when bent, while dead ones are brittle and snap easily.
- Watch Out For Sap
Although maple trees are supposed to produce sap, most trees don’t. Because once you notice fluid seeping out of the tree, it’s already infected by bacteria or pest infestation. Leaving it alone unattended will kill the tree over time, so it’s best to contact a professional to pinpoint the cause and apply a potential treatment.
- Hire A Professional
Even though you can identify the signs mentioned, you might still miss some of them, especially those unfamiliar with trees. Furthermore, you may not have the necessary equipment to prune or cut down your trees. Contact a professional arborist to ensure that everything’s been taken into consideration. Moreover, they can even offer suggestions for maintaining your trees to secure their health.
Takeaway
Trees are worthy of appreciation, considering how many benefits they provide. They provide cool shade and clean air and are home to birds and other animals. However, trees aren’t immune to sickness or death. With so many factors affecting their health, learning to inspect them to spot signs of unhealthy trees could prevent their conditions from worsening.
