Key Warning Signs Arborists Spot in a Tree Health Assessment

Understanding Professional Tree Health Assessment

The first step in completing a tree health assessment is to gather data on a tree’s health through a series of evaluations of its structure, disease, pests, environmental stresses, and growth habits. Professional arborists perform these assessments using established protocols and specialized knowledge to observe and detect very subtle warnings that will eventually lead to a tree’s health decline or the emergence of a problem.

Trees in New Brighton, Minnesota’s large, diverse urban forest experience many different stressors (climate extremes, soil limitations, and human activity), which makes it imperative for professional assessments to occur to maintain valuable tree resources and minimize the risk of safety-related hazards associated with unhealthy trees.

Warning Signs of Decline in the Crown and Foliage of Trees

Premature Yellowing and Browning of Leaves

Arborists who have years of experience can spot subtle changes in the color of leaves that could indicate a disease, a lack of nutrients, or environmental stress. Examples include premature yellowing, brown spots on the edges of leaves, or unusual spotting on leaves.

Timing of Color Changes During Seasons Provides Important Diagnostic Information

When leaves begin to lose their green color or drop at a time when they should still be healthy (usually in autumn), this could indicate a root-system issue, disease, or an environmental stressor that is negatively impacting the tree.

Crown-Density Reduction and Branch Dieback

Gradual reduction in the density of a tree’s crown or dieback of branches from the tips of the branches downward can be indicative of a variety of health problems, such as root damage, a disease spreading, or environmental stress. Arborists assess how much the density of a tree’s crown has changed over time to assess the general health of a tree.

Patterns of Crown Dieback Can Help Identify Specific Problems

Top-down dieback of the crown of a tree can be an indicator of a root-system issue, whereas dieback of branches randomly throughout the crown can be indicative of different diseases or stress factors.

Unusual Growth Habits

A professional assessment will identify abnormal growth habits, including excessive sprouts, unusual branching, or rapid growth-rate changes that are indicative of underlying health problems. Many times, these growth habits can be observed before the symptoms of the underlying health problems become apparent.

Growth Habits Such as Epicormic Sprouting

Epicormic sprouts are shoots that grow from the trunks or major branches of a tree. When epicormic sprouting occurs, it typically is a sign of stress in the tree, and when identified by an arborist, an assessment needs to be made as to what the underlying cause is and how best to treat the tree.

Warning Signs of Structural Decline in Trees

Trunk and Bark Anomalies

Arborists can see anomalies in the trunks of trees, such as changes in bark color, texture changes, or bare patches of bark that may be indicative of a disease, insect damage, or mechanical damage to the tree.

Bark changes can be indicative of a number of different health problems that can impact the structural integrity of a tree, such as disease, insect activity, or mechanical damage.

Problems Associated with Root Systems

Many times, root problems are hidden from view; however, these can pose significant health risks to the tree. A professional assessment can identify visible root problems, such as girdling roots, root damage, or changes in the soil levels surrounding trees, that can indicate serious health risks to the tree.

Branch-Architecture Defects

Defects in the architectural design of branches, such as two major stems competing with each other, bark inclusion, or poor union of branches, represent both health and safety risks. The professional assessment identifies these defects and evaluates their significance for future maintenance of the tree.

Problems with the Attachment of Branches

While branch-attachment problems are not usually immediately hazardous, if left uncorrected, they can ultimately contribute to the gradual decline of the tree or even result in a catastrophic failure of the tree. Therefore, it is crucial to identify these problems and provide the necessary corrections as soon as possible.

Identification and Diagnosis of Diseases in Trees

Fungal Disease Symptoms

Arborists that are experienced can identify early symptoms of fungal diseases, such as oak wilt, Dutch elm disease, and other serious diseases found in New Brighton. The earlier the identification of a disease, the better the chances of identifying treatment options for the disease, especially after the disease progresses.

Some of the earliest symptoms of diseases may be very subtle, such as minor leaf spotting, unusual bark characteristics, or slight growth changes, and require prompt action by an arborist to prevent further spread of the disease.

Bacterial and Viral Infections

Bacterial and viral tree diseases present different symptomfroman fungal diseases and thus require unique expertise to accurately diagnose. A professional assessment will differentiate between different types of diseases so that the most suitable treatment options can be recommended.

Patterns of disease spread assist arborists in determining the type of pathogen involved and creating management plans before the disease spreads too far, and treatment options are limited.

Identifying Pests and Insects That Harm Trees

Recognizing Early Signs of Pest Infestation

A professional assessment will identify the early signs of pest infestation,s such as the emerald ash borer, bark beetles, and other insects that harm trees in New Brighton. Identifying the early signs of a pest infestation gives the owner of the tree options for treating the pest before the damage to the tree becomes severe enough to kill the tree.

Some of the early signs of pest infestation may be very subtle, such as small holes in the bark, accumulation of sawdust under branches, or slight changes in the bark texture, and may indicate a developing pest problem that requires prompt professional action.

Assessing Secondary Damage Caused by Pests

Damage caused by pests often opens the door for additional secondary problems, including disease infections or structural weaknesses in the tree. A professional assessment will examine the damage caused directly by the pest and also the potential secondary problems that may need to be managed.

An understanding of the relationship between the activity of pests and the health of the tree enables arborists to develop integrated management plans that address the current problem and reduce the likelihood of similar problems occurring in the future.