Trees make up a wonderful part of our outdoor spaces, but they can cause problems that end up requiring costly repairs. Though some signs may be visible to someone who hasn’t been trained, it’s ideal to have a professional arborist help you monitor your trees’ health and condition. Here are a few ways to ensure that you can catch these troublesome issues as early as possible.

Regular Maintenance to Determine Stress Points

Your tree can often undergo stress from storms or otherwise become weak over time. You need to look out for serious issues with breaking tree limbs and decaying wood. One thing you can do easily yourself is perform a scratch test on the bark to see if there’s moist, green tissue (a sign your tree is doing well) or if it’s brown and dry (a sign of a dying or dead tree). This will require the assistance of an expert arborist. Professional arborists look out for certain signs that you may not be able to see with an untrained eye.

Pest Detection

Pests, such as termites and bark beetles, can cause a great deal of damage to your trees. It’s important to be aware of the signs that there’s a current infestation. Look out for tiny holes in the wood, piles of droppings near these holes, and, of course, large numbers of insects in the vicinity of the tree. Pests can cause serious harm if left unchecked, and you don’t want it to get bad enough to spread to other trees. A professional will apply a treatment that’s ideal for your particular pest issue.

Look Out for Tree Disease

Tree disease is not only an eyesore, but it also greatly weakens a tree. If you notice any rotting bark, discolored leaves, or brittle branches, you should take quick action to find out the cause. If you catch this early, there may be some maintenance that a professional arborist can do to prevent the disease from worsening.

Check for Structural Problems

Some structural problems are easy to see, but others may take longer to detect. That’s why it’s a good idea to have the help of a professional when it comes to assessing these issues. They will be able to determine if you have trees with an unusual growth pattern, uneven development in the canopy, or fungal growth. Catch this early on to avoid having to remove your tree, which can cost a significant amount of money.

There are many warning signs for tree issues, whether the underlying problem is the structure, disease, or pests. Don’t wait if you notice any of them. Instead, schedule a maintenance service call that will help to find such problems. Contact us at Tree and Green Services for tree infestation, disease, and other types of assessments and tree services in Auburn, AL.