Trees are susceptible to fungal infections and insect damage. Sometimes, the symptoms a sick tree displays could be mistaken for a lack of water or exposure to cold temperatures. If one of your trees seems to be unhealthy, it's good to call a tree service for an examination. Then, the right treatments can be applied and you can hopefully prevent the spread of the problem to nearby trees. Here are some signs of pest damage or infections to watch for and how a tree service might help.

When To Suspect Your Tree Is Sick

Bug damage is often seen on the leaves of trees. Different bugs attack different parts of a tree and different bugs may even attack leaves in different ways. An arborist can often tell just by looking at the chewing pattern what type of bug is infesting your tree. You might see holes chewed in leaves, holes bored into the trunk, bark coming loose, leaves that are yellow or dying, white spots, or stunted growth. You might see white fuzzy clumps on leaves that look like cotton or black oily residue. Besides bug damage, you could see fungal growth, mold growth, and even colonies of bugs on the trunk or behind the bark.

All you may notice is that your tree doesn't look as strong and beautiful as it once did. The first thing a tree service does is examine the tree to diagnose the problem. Lack of water, over-fertilizing, exposure to extreme weather, and other environmental factors are ruled out as the arborist looks for distinctive signs that point towards a pest infestation or fungal infection on your tree.

How A Tree Service Might Help Your Tree

Your arborist may use a fungicide to kill off a fungal infection or a pesticide to kill off bugs. The tree service may also cut off the affected parts of the tree when possible to eliminate the bugs and weakened limbs. Care has to be taken not to make the tree weaker by cutting off too much or by making the tree structurally unstable. The diseased portion of the tree is handled carefully to contain the bugs or fungus. It may also be necessary to treat other trees in your yard to keep them from succumbing to the same fungal or pest problem.

By taking quick action, you can often save a sick tree that would otherwise have to be cut down. Also, you may prevent the spread of an illness that might cause harm to your other trees or trees in your neighborhood. In addition, quick treatment will probably be less expensive than if you wait until a large portion of the tree has to be removed or the tree cut down because it can't be saved.

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