If you’re working on a construction project in an area with plenty of trees, it’s important to know which ones may be hazardous before starting work. If a tree is diseased or dying, it could topple over and destroy parts of the project and be a threat to health and safety. If you need some advice when inspecting a tree for your next project, our arboriculturalists have created a guide to spotting a tree that is diseased, dead or dying.
Start At The Roots
If you’re trying to get to the bottom of whether a tree’s condition is deteriorating it’s a good strategy to start at… the bottom! If there has been construction work near a tree you’re inspecting recently, and you’ve noticed signs including thinning foliage, flowering out of season, poor growth or yellow and undersized leaves, then i’s likely that the work has damaged some of the roots.
Keep An Eye Out For Signs of Damage in The Bark
A sure-fire sign that a tree is dying and is in urgent need of a helping hand, is that the bark becomes loose, cracked and cavities begin to show. These signs indicate that the tree is severely damaged and could easily be knocked over during a particularly extreme weather event.
Lots of Fungus and Insects
Another sign of damage is an increased number of insects around a tree or the presence of mushrooms at the base. If you see lots of carpenter ants or beetles living in the tree, there is likely a serious issue with your tree and it’s in the process of dying. Similarly, fungi growing at the base of the tree indicates root or trunk rot and is a sign that the condition of the tree should be investigated further.
Only a Few Leaves Remain
If it’s the growing season in spring or summer and there are no leaves or very few brown and brittle leaves, then this is a sign that there’s something seriously wrong with your tree. The tree is likely stressed or in the process of dying, particularly if it’s noticeably very bare when it should be covered with lush green leaves.
For Arboriculture Services in West Sussex, Look No Further Than Lizard Landscape Design
Here at Lizard Landscape Design, we provide a wide range of arboriculture services for our clients in Worthing and across West Sussex. If you need tree surveys performed to discover the condition of a tree, get in touch with us. We’d be happy to help!
To find out more about us and our services, please feel free to contact us. You can find us at Lizard Landscape Design and Ecology, The Old Bank, 34 South Street, Tarring, Worthing, West Sussex, BN14 7LH. Alternatively, call us on 01903 216 033 or email us at lizard.landscape@btconnect.com.