How to Diagnose a Diseased Tree

Having a diseased tree can be devastating to every type of tree. Generally a tree disease is brought about by an infestation from bacteria, fungus, or a virus. If you know the symptoms to watch out for you can save the tree and more importantly save you money, as replacing trees on your property can be expensive. You can learn the various techniques to diagnosing a diseased tree in order for you to keep your trees healthy and looking great.

Here are a few tips on how to diagnose a diseased tree.

* You should know that the there are various ways to diagnose a tree, as it will vary for different seasons and because of various environmental factors.

* When you diagnose the tree use the whole tree as a specimen. Examine every part of the tree such as the roots, branches, and leaves and then record what you find. You can record the weather trends for the past few months because if there is a too much precipitation or not enough of it the tree disease is affected.

* Be aware that there are three categories for a diseased tree, which are bacteria, viral, and fungus. A fungal disease in a tree is the most common type of tree disease and if you catch it early enough you can control the disease with copper containing fungicides.

* Inspect the leaves of the tree and see if the leaves are discolored or wilted. Look at the trunk of the tree for dead bark or growths. The growths on the tree trunk are referred to as “cankers”, which are caused by fungi. If, after inspection, you think your tree may be diseased you should call a professional, such as a landscaper or arborist, to look at the tree. A professional can look over the tree taking a sample of it and either confirm your suspicions or tell you the tree is not diseased.

* You should prevent root disease, which is the most common form of tree disease. If you do this you can prevent root rot, as there is no cure for root rot. Carefully inspect the soil and see if there is fungus in it before planting a tree in that area. You can avoid root damage on a tree by not over watering it and keeping pests away from it. Make sure you keep the lower part of the tree trunk protected from damage as this is the most important area of the tree.

Tips

* To further prevent tree disease you should keep your trees pruned and make sure to plant your trees where they will receive a lot of sun, as tree diseases tend to thrive in atmospheres where there is more moisture present.

* You have to make sure to always disinfect the pruning shears you use when you trim off the diseased parts of the tree. By doing this you will infect other trees with the disease when you use the same pruning shears.