25 Aug Is My Tree Dying? Can I Save It?
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If you're concerned about your tree, look no further.
Lots of people want to get rid of their trees. However, others might be sad to see them go. Perhaps you’ve noticed a change or have suspicions it might be dying. Is there any way you can save your dying eco buddy?
Just like everything else in life, it’s not super straight-forward. It could look like your tree is dying but is actually a-okay.
Today we’ll be covering all the essentials. We want to make sure you’ve got the confidence and know how to keep your trees right.
So, we’ll look at…
The 7 Signs to look out for,
Is it too late or curable?
Making an action plan
If you want to keep your tree alive it’s important to act fast however.
So make sure to keep reading!
Once its health is compromised it’s vulnerable to infections and diseases. These are brutal and they will pounce on the vulnerability.
This can create a snowball effect of all the things you don’t want to happen, to happen. With compromised health it’ll be a field day. Plus, a quick reason to get out the funeral stake.
For the best chances it’s advised to look out for the signs below.
Spot the 7 signs:
We’ve decided to rank these symptoms from urgent attention to non-priority based on safety. This is because some dead/dying trees can be dangerous.
It’s important to prioritise your safety first. If you aren’t 100% sure if your tree falls into these categories we have an article called is my tree dangerous.
We’ve also tagged which have hope for survival and which ones likely don’t.
- Tree is leaning Hope!
A leaning tree could mean that the root system is compromised. This means like an anchor coming up, it could set sail. Eeek. Not on the conservatory please! If the leaning is severe and coupled with other symptoms it could mean it’s coming down soon. Lets say no one will be yelling timber like Shakira. - Heaving soil Hope!
Similarly, heaving soil can be a sign that the roots are coming up. If this happens it means the foundations aren’t stable any more. Again, this can lead to a falling tree depending on the severity. - Root Damage Hope!
Following the common theme of instability, root damage also follows this. If the root damage affects the structural roots it’s more likely to happen. It can also deplete the tree of the nutrients it needs as roots have been damaged. - Lots of deadwood Hope!
Deadwood generally isn’t a problem. It’s natural for a mature/well aged tree to have it. Although it’s natural, for us it’s not safe having it literally hang about. We’d always advised getting deadwood removed from trees for your safety. If there’s excessive deadwood gathering around the crown of the tree it could mean infections, root rot or other problems. There’s also another issue. Baterica, insects and funghi LOVE deadwood. It’s great on the ground for habitats but on your tree, not so much. Your tree can become sick pretty quickly from these innocent yet damaging beings. - Rot or fungus Hope!
Honey fungus may sound strangely appetising but to a tree, it sounds like a nightmare. This fungus and other species can be detrimental to a trees chance of survival. Rot and fungus infection can cause structural issues with trees. It’s more likely to slowly rot away however. This means it’s not as dangerous as other issues. It’s just good to be cautious, especially if parts are significantly weakened. Storms and weather conditions can increase safety concerns. - No green under bark Dead
If you scratch some of the bark and you notice no green it’s a red light. A vibrant layer of green (the cambicum layer) shows there’s nutrient flow. No nutrient flow likely means the tree is dead. Take a look for dead twigs and frail branches – further indicators for a dead tree. - No New Leaves Dead
If it comes to the trees growing season and it’s not showing any hints of leaves growing there’s a possibility that it’s dead.
When is it too late?
Once a tree has gone past the point of no return there really is no return. That’s why it’s helpful to try and determine if the tree is properly dead.
The most obvious and final is that the tree has no green under the bark (the cambium layer). Coincided with this, the tree will be mostly deadwood.
When it comes to diseases and fungus, the tree might be partly alive. Unfortunately due to the severity of some diseases such as ash die back, the tree will need to be removed. This is to prevent it spreading like wildfire and because there’s no cure for it.
Apparently, only 1-5% of the ash tree population may have a genetic tolerance to ash die back, states the Tree council organisation.
If you want to learn more about it they have some great resources. Check out the Tree Council Organisation Ash dieback tree owners guide.
Can it be saved and how?
Now that you’ve identified the problem it’s time to create a game plan. Generally, these solutions are barring severe disease and fungus take over.
With treatable diseases it varies from situation to situation but fret not! We have an article covering diseases and fungus invasions on trees coming soon. It’ll be sure to cover everything you need to know to become a tree doctor. Who knows, maybe you’ll even become a tree surgeon after that!
Air spading
Air spading? This is new… Air spading is a tool that uses a high-pressure jet spray of air. Whilst it blasts air into the soil it loosens up any that’s tightly compact.
With more space it’s easier to absorb water, air and nutrients from the soil. It won’t uproot the trees anchor but simply give it some breathing space.
You could kill two birds with one stone:
If the roots are in need of extra TLC there’s something called “vertical mulching.” This goes hand in hand with air spading.
A grid pattern of little tunnels is made with the air spade and mulch is poured into it. This provides lots of nourishment directly to the roots and has major health benefits for the tree.
Professional Pruning
This next rejuvenation trick only applies to trees that have deadwood/infected branches. This is especially effective if there are compromised branches. Nasties won’t be able to spread to the healthy parts of the tree, preserving it. The same goes for deadwood branches but it’s more of a safety precaution.
Fertiliser and Mulch
Fertiliser again… Yep! We love fertiliser. Basic fertilisation can help boost a tree’s health. With extra nourishment it has a better chance at fighting off any diseases and infections.
Especially the ones that’ll be drawn to it’s compromised health. Just like us, trees need nutrients to keep healthy and strong and prevent future poor health.
So how do we use it effectively?
There are a few ways to use fertiliser and mulch on your trees.
An important thing to know is that you’ll need to apply it at the right time. If you don’t it can have the reverse effects. Generally this is in the autumn, such as October or when you have your first frost.
The reason for this is that your tree will still be active before heading into winter. Too early in application and it can cause failed growths on the tree which isn’t good for it.
Right amount of water
This tip falls under nourishment as well. Like much and fertiliser, it’s important not to water during the winter.
So, congratulations tree doctor! You should be able to give nursing your tree back to health a go. Sometimes you may find that there’s a few combined or confusing symptoms. If you’re still unsure you can always call your local tree surgeon who’ll be happy to help. (If you’re reading from Glasgow that’s us! 😉 ).
We hope you’re feeling a bit more confident and empowered to save your trees.
Still got some questions? Thoughts?
Drop us a comment and we’ll get back to you!
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