Trees are beautiful additions to a landscape. However, if you have a sick tree on your property, this can cause a number of problems. Aside from being an eyesore, unhealthy trees can cause damage to your property and spread disease to surrounding trees. Fortunately, identifying this problem at an early stage gives you time to contact an arborist for treatment or removal. Here are a few of the most common symptoms of an unhealthy tree.

How to Identify a Sick Tree

1. Decaying Wood

Rotting wood is one of the most obvious signs of a tree in poor health. Look for mushrooms around the roots. Fungus typically grows around unhealthy trees, so if you see conks around the base, this may mean the tree is already decaying on the inside. 

2. Missing Bark

Check the bark of the tree for bald spots. If there are many noticeable areas where bark is absent, brittle, or falling off, this means your tree is in bad shape. When more than half of the bark on a tree is missing, tree removal may be the only option. Holes in the bark may also indicate an insect infestation, which is a sign of disease. 

3. Dead Branches

Dead or broken branches are a tell-tale symptom of a sick tree. Even if the tree itself can be treated, the branches must be removed to prevent a safety hazard. In weather conditions such as wind or rain, the branches can fall on your home or an electrical line and cause damage. 

If you have identified any of the above warning signs, turn to the arborists at McAllister Tree Service in Cornelia, GA, for help keeping the trees on your property healthy. The experts have over 20 years of experience diagnosing tree conditions and providing the best treatment options. They also offer tree trimming and tree and stump removal services. To schedule an appointment, give the arborists a call today at (706) 778-7527. You can also visit their website to learn more about their full list of services.