Green Thumb Tips: 3 Signs of Tree Disease To Look For

It’s recently come to your attention that a tree in your yard is exhibiting some unusual behaviors. Maybe something looks off about your tree or it doesn’t seem as full of life. Perhaps there’s a discoloration in the bark of your tree and you’re concerned that if it is diseased, the disease might spread to the rest of your yard. There’s no clear cut definition for when a tree is diseased but if there is a significant change in the way your tree appears, it might be an underlying sign of a disease.

Peeling Bark or Signs of Decay

Discolored leaves, bark peeling off the sides of your tree, and the tree leaning or drooping more than usual are all signs of a possible underlying condition. If the leaves are discolored and it’s not the season for it, this could mean that there is an infection in the leaves. The two colors to look for here are brown and yellow. Major branches may also show excessive wilting. Fungus located in the soil of the tree could be attacking the roots of the tree, which directly affects the branches and leaves growing on the upper portions of the tree. The bark peeling is a terrible sign. Bark is used to protect the inside of the tree from infection, like a shield. If this is peeling off unnaturally, there could be a huge underlying issue.

Unusual Shoots or Black Flowers

As strange as it may sound, there is a disease that affects more than 100 different type of plants. This is called fire blight. When a plant has fire blight, any flowers or shoots on the tree will turn black in color. Once infected, these blackened shoots or flowers will bend into the shape of a shepherd’s crook. This is an aggressive disease that can spread in a manner of hours after the symptoms begin to show.

Fluids Seeping Out

Some trees naturally have a sap that seeps out during certain times of the year. If your tree is not this kind of tree or it’s an unusual color or odor, consider contacting a professional tree service, like Pete & Ron’s Tree Service, Inc., to check it out. They may be able to help you remove any infected trees so that the rest of your trees remain safe.

Why is it important to catch a disease as soon as possible? Not all foliage disease is irreversible. If you want any chance of figuring out what is causing your tree to decay and to reverse the damage before it’s too late, keeping your eye out for some of these signs and remedying them as soon as possible is key. There is always the possibility that the damage done so far can be reversed and your tree can be saved.