How Proper Tree Health Care is Observed
Do you have trees at home, at work on company premises, or anywhere else? Have you ever imagined that trees need care, just like humans? Whether you are aware or not, trees do need care, just like us. It is the degree or level of care that varies between us and trees. However, just like you would not let your beard stay ungroomed for years, you should not do the same for trees.
Tree Health
So, what exactly is tree health? In-plant health care, tree health is focused on studying factors that affect the vigor and productivity of trees. Tree health can be expressed by describing the symptoms or damage, or through assessments of crown conditions. This cuts across all tree species. When health is affected, symptoms show, and can be understood once one understands plant health care. Different tree species show different symptoms based on the health issue that has attached the trees. Ill health in trees refers to situations where tree health deviates from the normal, healthy state causing death or anomalous growth. Trees lose their health when disease, or insects damage and attack trees. This leads to a decline in the normal function of trees. Tree appearance also changes.
Plant Health Care
We should take plant health care seriously. In the event that symptoms emerge on our plants, it is necessary to contact a certified arborist. An arborist is certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and is tasked with serving the tree care industry with his/her expertise. Being a member of the International Society of Arboriculture means one has all the relevant expertise to handle tree care needs and can be trusted with tree care solutions. The International Society of Arboriculture ensures each arborist complies with the professional code of ethics and offers the right expertise to the industry. Any authorized arborist has the capacity to offer tree service in any company, assess and understand plant care issues and factors that affect plant health in the market. Symptoms of an ill tree include discolored leaves, dead branches, early leaf drops, among others. The causes of the symptoms could be minor, other times they could be complex and would need professionals like a certified arborist to provide more information about the condition. A proper plant health care program ensures the best tree care solutions for all plants. Reliable tree care solutions not only ensure proper care to your plants but also boosts the health of the surrounding plants, ensuring all of them remain healthy.
Tree Health Care
Tree health care is part of plant health care and it mainly focuses on trees. Pro Tree is dedicated to monitoring your tree’s health, making sure that your trees are beautiful and remain healthy both in the short and long run. Trees play an important role in our lives. They supply oxygen, wood, food, and shade, among others. Trees growing in the urban areas don’t last due to the harsh environment they’re put through under power lines, fumes, or being too close to roads. Having healthy trees is not an accident. You must give each tree proper care to get the health you desire for them.
You can start by mulching them. Mulching refers to covering the soil or ground to make more favorable conditions and nutrients for plant growth, development, and efficient crop production. Mulch simply means covering the soil. Mulching provides an excellent path to improving soil quality and establishing a natural barrier to protect the roots of the tree, providing a favorable environment for the growth of healthy trees.
Consulting an arborist for more information before mulching is however still the best option to give your tree the best tree care. The root system is the core of any plant. When planting a tree or any plant, the soil should be favorable enough for the kind of plant it is being prepared for. The deeper the roots sink into the ground, the stronger the root system and the better and healthier the plants will grow.
Insects and Diseases
Insects and diseases are the greatest threat to tree health. While some insects are beneficial to trees, some are hazardous. Pollinating insects such as bees, ensure the reproductivity of trees, as seed spreaders are major players in the tree ecosystem. Apart from bees, an insect-like wasp, fly, beetle, or butterfly drink nectar, eat pollen from flowers and deposit them in other flowers, pollinating new blooms. Such an insect is a life determinant for a tree. Eliminating any insect of this kind is a risk to tree life.
On the other hand, an insect can be dangerous to trees. Through its feeding activity, an insect can degrade wood and timber products and cause deformities by boring into tree stems during feeding. The emerald ash borer, for example, can eat large amounts of bark, breaking through stems. Insect attacks on the tree expose it to secondary infestations as it opens entry points for pathogens. This weakens the defense mechanism of the tree. Weakened stems also become weak and cannot support the tree. There are birds that equally damage the bark of trees, leaving a very thin layer of protection, making the tree susceptible to diseases. An abnormal change in the appearance of the tree should be treated as a possible indication of damage to the tree’s health. The symptoms should be examined by a tree professional and addressed as soon as possible.
Healthy Trees
Trees are an important part of any landscape. How then, can you tell a healthy tree from an unhealthy tree? There are many signs to look out for to distinguish a healthy tree from an unhealthy tree. A healthy tree has a strong and stable trunk. The trunk is the main part of the tree and bears all the strength. The trunk grows regularly. It is also strong. The trunk grows straight, undisturbed by the pressure of the surrounding areas. The trunk always has a straight, upright appearance, with visible strength and stability to the tree structure. The trunk experiences new growth in itself and branches also grow from the trunk. The trunk also has strong, stable bark. The bark is strong enough to protect the tree from any minor damages. Lose or peeling off bark signifies a troubled tree. The tree also has a lot of leaves, healthy leaves. A healthy tree usually has no dead or broken branches. Healthy leaves also signify a healthy tree. Changing leaf colors if not dictated by weather or the species could also be indicative of poor health.
How Can You Tell if a Tree is Healthy?
You can tell that a tree has good health by looking at the tree species, among other factors.
The first indicator of health is the presence of only one leader (the trunk) since a truly healthy tree must have a central leader to keep it together, resulting in a strong and perfectly formed tree.
Secondly, there must be new growth consistently. Each year, the tree must sprout some more as measured compared to the preceding one. However, the tree’s characteristic growth rate must be put under consideration before taking the growth scar difference as the only indication.
The presence of full branches is also an indicator of tree health because dead or broken branches could be indicative of a more serious issue.
A strong/robust bark is also an indicator of tree health. The branches and the leader should have an intact bark, meaning there is no peeling or looseness of the bark.
The last indicator of a healthy tree is the leaves or in evergreens, the needles. The season often determines the size and color and thus one should check it to determine the health of the tree in question.
How Can I Make my Tree Healthy Again?
When a tree shows signs of illness, call on a certified arborist to evaluate the tree. There are common problems that affect most trees. One is the weather. Extended periods of drought or winter can negatively impact a tree based on what type of tree it is. At times the weather leaves deep cracks in the bark, giving room for fungi infection, insect infestation, and other factors that could jeopardize tree health. A species that does well in winter or drought should be planted in the respective weather condition. Pruning branches can help save certain plants that are not used to drought conditions. Pruning removes a significant chunk of canopy mass. Removing toxic or excessive canopy leaves the tree in the right shape and form for growth. When properly done, it can put back all tissues in line for healthier growth.
Winter Burn contributes to significant discoloration of the foliage. Effects of winter burn are more visible where the tree is later exposed to the sun and wind. Burlap wraps can help protect the tree from winter burn especially if it is young. Luckily, many trees can survive winter burns by regrowing their plant foliage to replace the destroyed ones. pruning helps where only buds are left since pruning up to a quarter-inch above the still-alive bud gives the tree hope of survival.
Fungi is another threat to the life of any tree. Most fungal diseases get to the tree through the roots and open wounds on the bark of the tree. Once infected, it is difficult to control the fungi. Fungi can be removed by pruning the infected area. This is before the infection spreads.
Who Can Tell me What is Wrong With my Trees?
If anything is wrong with your tree, contact an arborist for assistance. Come to us at Pro Tree for help. We understand the science of trees and have programs designed to ensure quality tree care, with unmatched maintenance for quality trees. We make you our top priority from the moment you get in contact with us