Diagnose Your Trees for Insect and Stress Damage

Insects and disease can easily harm healthy trees. As a property owner, you should always be on the lookout for any abnormalities in the appearance of your trees. If you’re not able to identify any specific symptoms or their causes, don’t hesitate to call the professionals at Wauson Tree Service.The Diagnosis1.  Try to identify the plant or tree that appears to be under stress. Both insects and diseases are plant-specific. This may allow you to limit the number of suspected diseases or disorders.2.  Is there a pattern of abnormality? Comparing a plant that you suspect might be affected with other plants of the same species can give you a much clearer idea.3.  Examine the color of the roots if possible. Brown or black roots may indicate a problem. If brown, your tree/s may be suffering from toxic soil conditions. If black, root-rotting organisms may be thecause.4.  Are there wounds on the trunk? Wounds are caused by a number of things, including lawn mowers, weather, insect infestation or disease.5.  Can you spot dead leaves in the midst of healthy ones? Dead leaves near the top of a tree can be an indication of environmental or root stress. These conditions can make your tree/s a potential hazard.Plant diseases fall into two general categories: diseases caused by living agents (infectious), and those cause by non-living agents. Examples of infectious agents include fungi, viruses and bacteria. Non-living agents are categorized by temperature extremes, pollutants, vandalism, or moisture fluctuations. In extreme cases of the two example, trees can often be damaged beyond repair; requiring removal from a private or commercial property.Insect Damage to trees can be the result of chewing, sucking, or boring. And it can be difficult to determine the insect group to which the culprit belongs. If there is any doubt, a tree expert should be notified immediately.TreatmentTreatment for an insect or disease problem depends on the insect’s species, how advanced the problem is, and other factors that might be specific to local regulations. Contact the tree service professionals at Wauson Tree Service today for a free estimate. We can be reached at walt {at} wausontreeservice {dot} com, or by telephone at 214-450-8720.