Trees can add significant value to your property, so it’s best to keep them properly maintained and as healthy as possible. Unfortunately, many homeowners don’t recognize their trees have a disease until it’s time to call an arborist for total removal.

To avoid this, look out for the following signs and symptoms of diseases:

• Seeping Fluid: Do you notice a sour-smelling liquid seeping out of your tree? It’s a sign of alcoholic slime flux, a common bacterial disease that occurs in many kinds of trees, including elm, beech, and maple. It often leaves dark, water-soaked streaks on the cracks in the bark. Pruning may be necessary to remove dead branches.

• Blotches on Leaves: If you see spots on the leaves, they could be a sign of anthracnose disease, which is a type of fungi. The blotches are most obvious from mid-spring to summer. As the infection progresses, it could result in twigs and branches dying, as well as defoliation. Call an arborist before it gets worse.

• Peeling Bark: Some trees, like birch and silver maple, naturally shed their bark. To tell if peeling is caused by an infection, look underneath the bark. If you see bare wood or mats of fungus, it’s more likely the tree is suffering from a disease. Unnatural peeling could take away essential nutrients, so treatment should be started right away.  

• Root & Crown Rot: If you notice a combination of crown dieback, dehydrated-looking leaves, loss of foliage, darkened bark around the soil line, and an overall unhealthy appearance, your tree may be experiencing root and crown rot. This can happen when the base of the tree has stayed wet for a long period.

McAllister Tree Service in Cornelia, GA, can help diagnose the condition of your trees and provide the right treatment. They’ll assign a capable arborist to help you restore health and beauty to your yard. They also offer tree pruning and cutting, stump removal, and landscaping services. Call (706) 778-7527, or visit their website for more information.