What Can Happen If You Don’t Properly Maintain Your Trees?
It’s easy to take your trees for granted. They sit in your yard year after year, not asking for much attention. This is why tree problems sneak up on you. A tree can look fine from a distance, even if something is wrong. A few dead branches or a cracked trunk might not seem like a big deal. But trees are living things, and small health problems can turn into life-threatening issues if they aren’t addressed.
These are some of the things that can happen if you don’t properly care for your trees:
Dead or Weak Branches Can Fall During a Storm
Dead or weak branches can stay on a tree for a long time, but that doesn’t mean they’re safe. Deadwood gets dry and cracked, which makes it more likely to snap and fall, especially during storms. High winds, heavy rainfall, snow, and ice all put extra stress on weak branches.
Falling limbs can damage:
- Roofs and gutters
- Your cars
- Fences, sheds, outdoor furniture
- Your walkways and driveway
The most serious increased risk is that debris may fall on someone and seriously injure them. Storm-damaged limbs and deadwood should never be ignored, especially if they’re hanging over your home, driveway, patio, or sidewalks. Need a tree trimming service in Columbus? Our team can help you remove your trees’ deadwood before it comes down on its own. Our arborists will also examine your trees to spot other issues like cracks, decay, disease, or branch defects that might not be obvious from the ground.
Tree Diseases Can Spread
Tree diseases aren’t always dramatic at first. Some diseases start with a few discolored leaves. Other times, you might notice dead twigs, peeling bark, soft wood, weird growths, or branches that aren’t producing leaves. Some of these symptoms are hard to notice, which is why you should regularly have your trees inspected by an arborist. Here are some more signs of disease to look out for:
- Leaves turning brown too early in the season
- Branches dying back from their tips
- Fungi on tree bark or near the tree’s base
- Cankers, sunken spots, or cracks on the trunk
Don’t brush off these early warning signs even if the rest of your tree looks healthy. Trees decline slowly, and by the time the disease is obvious, it might be too late to save the tree. Early treatment gives your trees a much better chance to live.
Pests Can Take Over
Stressed trees are easier targets for pests. Some pests feed on leaves, while others bore into tree trunks or attack roots. Be on the lookout for:
- Small holes in your tree’s bark
- Sawdust-looking material near trunks
- Sticky residues on the pests tree
- Thinning leaves
- Branches suddenly dying back
It’s hard to spot pest infestations for the same reason it’s hard to spot tree diseases: the symptoms are subtle and slowly get worse. Insects may already be deep inside the tree before you notice structural damage. Scheduling regular tree care and tree maintenance helps you keep your trees healthy and resilient against pests. And if pests do manage to infest one of your trees, our arborists will catch them early and nurse your tree back to health.
Roots Can Become Unstable
Sometimes the root of your tree’s problems is…its roots! Your tree’s roots do much more than hold it in the ground. They take in water and nutrients and store energy. When the roots are damaged, it affects the entire tree.
A tree may look fine right after root damage, but over time, you may notice thinning leaves, slower growth, leaning, or branches dying back. Roots can be damaged by:
- Soil compaction from heavy equipment
- Poor drainage
- Improper tree root pruning
- Mulch piled too high against the trunk.
Unstable roots are especially problematic during storms. If your tree’s root system is too weak to anchor it, your tree will lean or fall. This is why you want to properly maintain all your trees, but especially larger trees near your home, garage, driveway, or utility lines.
Contact Joseph Tree today to schedule an inspection if you suspect your tree’s roots are unstable.
Trees Can Become Safety Hazards and Cause Property Damage
All of the health problems we’ve discussed so far result in weaker trees, and weak trees are safety hazards. Not all tree damage is an emergency, but you don’t want to ignore any of these warning signs:
- Large dead limbs
- Deep cracks
- Hollow areas
- Mushrooms near the base
- Sudden leaning
- Lifted soil around tree roots
If your tree has any of these warning signs, it’s a safety hazard. Tree limbs can fall on you and cause serious injuries or property damage. Call Joseph Tree today to schedule a tree inspection.
Your Trees May Die
Your trees may die before their time if tree diseases or infestations go unnoticed. Our arborists can cure a lot of tree health problems if we catch them early, but once decay, disease, pests, and root damage get to a certain point, your tree may never recover. Once your tree dies, removal is the only safe option. We offer tree removal services, but felling a tree and removing the fallen tree is often more expensive than the treatments we could have used to save it.
Contact Joseph Tree Today
Tree Trimming and Tree Removal Services in Columbus Ohio
So, what can happen if you don’t properly maintain your trees? Your trees can become weak, diseased, and infested, leading to falling limbs, injuries, and property damage. Trees are strong, but they can get sick just like us. Our arborists can help you keep them healthy.
Do you have damaged or overgrown trees on your property? Contact Joseph Tree today to schedule tree services in Columbus, Ohio. Our team of arborists will inspect your trees to make sure they’re safe and healthy. Treating a small tree problem today is much easier than removing a dying tree later.