Arbor 911: How to Tell When Your Trees Aren’t Healthy

You love those oak trees and birches. Nothing makes you happier than firs and sweetbays. So of course, it goes without saying that you want your trees to be happy.

Sadly, there is no tree hotline to call and talk them through a rough patch; all trees have is you, so it’s up to you to ensure their environment and health is the best it can be. Here are a few signs to look for that indicate your trees need help … and what to do about them.

Missing or Unusual Leaves

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, leaves are a great key to tree health. Look for “distorted leaves and stems,” “growth stimulation,” and “stunted and reduced leaves” as warning signs.

Missing Fruit and Flowers

If your tree is supposed to produce flowers or fruit at a certain time of year and you see a) nothing or b) much reduced fruit, that’s a sign. Call in a tree pro to diagnose the issue immediately.

Abnormal Fungus Growth

A little fungus can be normal, but overnight uprisings of mushrooms around the base of the tree or up its sides usually indicates rot, decay, or otherwise unhealthy conditions.

Dieback, Wilt, or Collapse

This is one of the clearest signs of tree unhappiness, says the United Nations. It can stem from insufficient water supply, too much water, disease, or dieback from old age.

Lesions or Cankers

Problems on the surface of the tree are a clear indicator that all is not well in tree world. “Cankers vary from those with sunken centers to others with raised edges and some with more general swellings,” says the UN, adding that spots, blotches, scabs, pits, holes, and other blemishes are all bad signs as well. This may result from disease, animal feeding, or pest activity – and needs a specialist’s review.

Need Help? Call a Pro

Premier Tree Solutions is a growing tree removal business based in Atlanta, Georgia. We specialize in a number of areas, including tree trimming and pruning, tree and stump removal, storm damage, and cleanup, branch clearing, and debris removal. And… we have three Certified Arborists on staff!

Give us a call at 404.252.6448 for an unhappy tree consult today, and we’ll make a plan to get your babies in ship shape fast. Emergency? Call 404.569.8897 instead, and we’ll be there in a jiffy.

Let It Blow, Let It Blow: 4 Ways to Prep Your Trees for Strong Winds

Trees, like people, are sensitive to extreme weather. While these firmly rooted landscape specimens can certainly withstand more gale force than you can, they don’t like to be battered about by strong winds – and can eventually suffer severe damage without protection.

If you live in areas where tornado/hurricane warnings are common, you’re probably wondering what you can do to better prepare your trees for the madness. Also important, which things can you do yourself, and which do you need to call in a pro for? Let’s talk about that today.

  1. Prune Judiciously in Spring and Fall

First and foremost, prune. It’s tempting to “leave well enough alone” when a tree is doing fine, but weak branches are hard to spot visually. You need a pro up there examining them and removing anything unstable. That way, when a storm comes through, only the strongest branches must withstand it.

Depending on the tree, summer may also be a good time to prune. Typically, when it’s cold and resources are reduced, you should avoid pruning in winter.

  1. Remove Older Trees

Although it may seem harsh, some trees simply aren’t storm-safe. If you have a tree on your property that drops limbs frequently because it’s old and brittle, it probably needs to go. Consider getting rid of it before the storm hits.

  1. Create a Windscreen

Although we usually think of windscreens as for the benefit of other types of plants, trees can screen trees as well. If you want to protect your yard, it pays to play a long game and set up strong trees around the perimeter.

  1. Be Especially Careful with Trees Close to Buildings

Damage during storms frequently comes at the hands (or would that be twigs) of dropped limbs. Examine each tree near a home carefully and remove anything that looks even slightly suspicious if it is overhanging a structure. That’s another task that requires a pro.

Looking for that pro today? Call in Premier Tree Solutions for help. We specialize in helping tree owners feel secure and keeping their landscapes safe. In addition to preventing trees from wind and floods and other natural disasters, we also do branch thinning and pruning, storm cleanup, tree removal, stump grinding, and more. We invite you to call 404.252.6448 for a consultation today, or in an emergency, 404.569.8897.

Let us help you today!

BE A GEORGIA TREE KNOW-IT-ALL: YAUPON HOLLY

Get to know Georgia’s beautiful array of trees and how you can take care of your own! Each month, we feature some of the most popular trees in the state. For September, we are showcasing the Yaupon Holly. Learn all about the Yaupon Holly below!

Yaupon Holly Tree