Know The Indicators That Your Tree's Health Has Become Compromised
A healthy tree in your yard does not only contribute to the kerb appeal of your property. Plenty of foliage means a respite from the heat as well as improved air quality for your residence. However, some homeowners may neglect to care for their trees as they assume these are resilient plants that are self-sufficient. A tree may not need as labour-intensive maintenance as, for example, a herb garden. Nevertheless, it will still need some check-ups from time to time to ensure that it is not dying. You would also need to hire tree services to carry out routine tree lopping, pruning and more to keep your tree healthy. Here are some of the indicators that would mean the health of your tree has become compromised.
The tree is harbouring borer beetles
One of the biggest threats to the health of your tree is the borer beetle. These insects are found in most parts of Australia, which means your tree would probably be at risk of being infested by them at some point in its lifespan. When borer beetles attack a tree, the females will start to lay eggs on the branches as well as the trunk of the tree.
As the eggs mature, the larvae of the beetles then begin to draw nutrition from the tree, and this significantly decreases the resources the tree requires to thrive. If the infestation is not eliminated, the limbs start to fall off, and your tree will eventually die. Be on the lookout for any strange holes in your tree and enlist the services of an arborist.
The tree leaves have started to become discoloured
Another sure fire sign that your tree is succumbing to illness is when the foliage starts to turn colour. Although tree leaves will change colour at some point in the year, it is primarily due to seasons changes. The change in pigmentation is normal at this time because it simply indicates the amount of sun that the tree is receiving is less than normal, more so with deciduous trees that eventually shed their leaves.
But if your tree starts to change colour during the spring or the summer, it is a clear indication of an underlying problem. One of the main reasons for this would be the tree is not receiving adequate nitrogen, but it could also imply that the tree is disease ridden and the leaves cannot photosynthesise as normal. You may want to consider tree lopping to stop the disease from spreading any further.