Is Your Tree Worth Saving?
Because trees add so much beauty and curb appeal to a property, it can be hard on homeowners when a storm or disease damages the tree. Losing the tree could mean losing memories and drastically changing the utility and appearance of the yard. Some hope that with care and nutrition, a tree will bounce back. However, keeping a dying tree is a safety hazard for the property and the people who live there.
How can you know if your tree is worth saving? Here are some key things that could indicate your tree really is a lost cause:
1. Too much lost foliage.
Trees use leaves to make food through photosynthesis. This food helps to feed the roots, and it helps to heal wounds and fight illness. When a tree loses a significant portion of its crown, the leaves cannot produce as much food. Sometimes the demand for nutrition outweighs what the remaining foliage can provide. In this case, the tree will not be able to bounce back from the damage. Trees generally lose foliage due to insect infestation, drought, or significant storm damage that severs main and supporting branches.
2. Large portions of missing bark.
Bark is the protective layer of the tree. When it is removed, the tree is more vulnerable to infection. The bark also contains the phloem and xylem that allow a tree to transport nutrients and water up and down the trunk. When large pieces of bark are removed, this highway is interrupted, and sections of branches or roots may die or wither as a result. Sometimes, a tree service may help a tree heal from bark loss with grafting or netting that seals off the missing portion. However, if bark is missing in a circle all the way around a tree, it cannot be saved.
3. Splits into the trunk and main leader.
The trunk supports the tree, and as the trunk gives way to branches, the main leader still follows up the center of the tree, giving the tree its core structure, growth pattern, and stability. A split down into the main leader essentially opens the heart of the tree up, and trees have difficulty recovering from the damage before infestation or infection begins. Trees may even decompose from the inside out once this central, most essential part of the tree is compromised.
For more information on whether or not a tree can be saved, contact a tree service in your area like Tielis Tree Service.