Once a disease is identified, arborists can prescribe the appropriate treatment. This may involve pruning away infected branches, applying fungicides or antibiotics, or implementing cultural practices like adjusting watering or mulching to mitigate disease progression.
If the disease has significantly compromised the tree's structural integrity, making it a safety hazard, removal becomes necessary. Additionally, if the disease is highly contagious and poses a risk to nearby trees, removal can help prevent further spread.
Spread Mulch Around Your Tree
Adding mulch around the base of the tree is a great way to nourish the soil and help prevent fungal disease, regulate soil temperatures, help with drainage, and restore the tree's overall health.
When fresh wounds occur on the trunk, the injured bark should be removed carefully, leaving healthy bark that is sound and tight to the wood. A wound dressing (tree paint) is not necessary. You will be able to observe the wound closing from the edges each year as the tree grows.
While it is possible to revive sick or dying trees, bringing dead trees back to life is typically not feasible. There are several reasons to remove a dead tree — but how exactly can one tell if a tree is dead, sick, or healthy?
Trees do best with infrequent, deep waterings. Prune trees only when it is necessary for structure, health, and safety purposes. Remove vines, turf, or competing vegetation surrounding the tree's trunk.
Peeling or loose bark or cracks in the tree around the tree's root collar. Swelling, soft or decaying wood, or small holes in the tree trunk. Dead, dying, or drooping branches in the canopy. Wilting, discolored, or damaged leaves.
If you're concerned about your tree's health, contact an arborist. Certified arborists handle planting, pruning, fertilizing, pest control, and tree removal. Consulting arborists focus on diagnosing issues, recommending treatments, appraising trees, and advising on tree services.
When a tree is wounded, the injured tissue is not repaired and does not heal. Trees do not heal; they seal. As Shigo (1982) eloquently describes, trees are generating organisms while animals are regenerating life forms.
Apply Fertilizer in The Right Place. The root zone area, the space beneath the canopy of the shrub or tree, contains most of the plant's fine or “feeder” roots that absorb water and nutrients. It extends from he trunk (outside of the buttress or structural roots at the root flare) to the outermost branches (Fig. 3).
Weak trees are supported by cabling alone or by both bolting and cabling. In cabling, high-strength steel cables are installed high in the tree's crown to join two or more weakly attached parts of the tree. The cables provide physical support to the limbs when they are placed under stress or strain.
How do I treat transplant shock? Keep it well watered: During the growing season, newly planted and transplanted trees require supplemental water besides just rain. Find out all you need to know about watering here! Mulch: Organic mulch helps soil retain moisture, keeps weeds away, and provides trees with nutrients.
Maintain the basic health of your trees with regular watering and proper pruning. Loosely pack mulching around your tree base for breathability and nutrient absorption. Use caution when landscaping near trees to avoid injury and disruption to its root system. Don't write off your sick tree as dead.
Once you've determined that your tree is sick, you'll need to take steps to help it recover. Depending on the cause of the illness, this may involve pruning, fertilizing, applying fungicides or insecticides, removing dead or damaged limbs, or providing additional resources like water and light.
Simply scatter the fertilizer over the entire root zone and be sure to avoid the tree trunk. Be sure not to put down too much fertilizer. Be sure to water the fertilizer so it absorbs into the soil and doesn't injure your tree's roots. If your soil is compacted, consider aerating before fertilizing.
Damaged trees need extra care to recover. Ensure the tree is getting enough water, sunlight, and nutrients by regularly watering and fertilizing it. You can also add a layer of mulch around the base of the tree to retain moisture and keep weeds at bay.
This is no longer considered a best practice. In fact, wrapping or spraying bark wounds on the outer layer can lock in unwanted moisture to the damaged area promoting decay. It also keeps any diseases that may have been introduced during damage alive and well. Instead, we recommend a procedure called bark tracing.
How Long Does a Tree Wound Take to Heal? The outward healing process may take upwards of 15 to 20 years. However, the compartmentalization process is fast-paced and extremely effective within the tree, taking up to 3 years.