Spring Tree Problems: What to Look Out For

DavidGaona

Nowthattheweatherisfinallystartingtowarmup,it’stimetogetoutsideand enjoythebeautifulspringtrees.Butbeforeyoudo,makesureyouareawareof somecommontreeproblemsthatcanoccurthistimeofyear.Oneofthemost

commonissuesisbugseatingawayattheleaves.Anotherissueisimpropertree careleadingtodamageduringthespringthaw.We’llgooveralloftheseproblems andmoreinthisblogpostsothatyoucanbepreparedtodealwithanyissuesyour treesmayexperiencethisseason!

What Insects Should I Look Out For?

Springishightimeforinsects,andmanyofthemwilltargettreesastheirhost.Some ofthemostcommoninsectsthatcancauseproblemsfortreesare:

Aphidsaresmall,soft bodiedbugsthatcanbefoundinlargecoloniesonthe undersidesofleaves.Theysuckthesapoutofplants,whichcanleadtodistorted growth,yellowingleaves,andstuntedplantgrowth.

Caterpillars

Caterpillarsarethelarvaeofmothsandbutterflies.They’reoftenbrightlycolored, andwhiletheymakebeautifulbutterflies,theyalsolovetoeatyourtree’sleaves.

Caterpillarscanstripatreeofitsleavesinamatterofdays,soifyouseethemon yourtrees,besuretoremovethemassoonaspossible.

Japanese Beetles

JapanesebeetlesareatypeofleafbeetlethatisnativetoJapan.Theyareaboutthe sizeofapennyandaremetallic greenwithbronzewings.Japanesebeetlescause extensivedamagetotreesandshouldbetreatedimmediately.

Scale Insects

Scaleinsectsaresmall,winglessbugsthatattachthemselvestoplants.Theylook likesmallbumpsonyourtreesandplants.Theycancauseyellowingleaves,stunted growth,andevendeathinextremecases.Scalecanbedifficulttotreat.Ifyou suspectyourtreehasscale,contactanISACertifiedArborist,likeTreeNewal.

Spider Mites

Spidermitesareverycommoninthespringandsummermonths.Whiletheyare microscopic,youcanseethesmallwebstheyusetogetaroundyourtree.Spider mitescanspreadtootherplantsandtreesnearby,soit’simportanttotreatthem beforetheyspreadthroughoutyourproperty.

Eachofthesebugscancauseseriousdamagetoyourtreesiftheyareleftunchecked. Ifyoususpectyourtreeisbeingaffectedbyinsects,callTreeNewaltoday!

What Other Spring Tree Problems Should I Be Aware Of?

Inadditiontobugs,thereareafewothercommonproblemsthatcanaffecttreesin thespring.Theseinclude:

Freeze Damage

Freezedamageisacommonproblemfollowinghardwinters.Thinningofthe canopy,deadbranchtipsinthespring,cracksinthebark,anddamagefrompests canallbesignsthatatreesufferedfreezedamage.

Sunscald

Sunscaldisatypeofdamagethatcanoccurwhenthesunwarmsthebarkofatree toomuch.Thetissueunderthebarkisactuallydamagedbytheheatfromthesun. Thisattractswood boringinsectsandresultsindeadspotsonthelowertrunk.. Thisdamageismostcommononyoungtreesorthin-barkedspecies,suchas maples,orontreesthathaveadaptedtoshadedconditions,whicharesuddenly changed.

Wind Damage

Windcanalsocausedamagetotreesduringthespring.Highwindscanbreak branchesorevenuproottrees.Ifyouhaveanytreesthataredamagedbywind,it’s importanttohavethemcheckedbyanarboristassoonaspossible.

Should I Fertilize My Tree This Spring?

Fertilizingyourtreesinthespringcanhelpthemtorecoverfromanywinter damageandpreparethemforthegrowingseason.However,it’simportanttouse therighttypeoffertilizerandapplyitcorrectly.Otherwise,youcoulddomoreharm thangood.Ifyou’renotsurehowtofertilizeyourtrees,contactanISACertified Arboristforhelpwithyourtree.

Where Can I Learn More?

Ifyou’reinterestedinlearningmoreaboutcaringforyourtreethisspring,checkout thesearticles:

WhyNorthTexasTreesNeedFertilization

Ifyouareconcernedaboutanyofthesespringtreeproblems,orifyouthinkyour treemaybeexperiencingoneoftheseissues,contactTreeNewaltoday.OurISA Certifiedarboristscanhelpdiagnosetheproblemandrecommendthebestcourse ofaction.

To learn more about Spring Tree Problems: What to Look Out For, call our Argyle and Southlake-based teams at tel:(817) 592-6846 or send us a message.

We’realittledifferentthantheaveragetreeservicescompany.

LearnmoreaboutTreeNewal’sISACertifiedArborists!

OurDallas/FortWorth basedtreedoctorscanexplainhowsustainabletreecare servicesaddmorevaluetoyourbottomline.

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