Diseased trees can pose several threats to your home. From falling on your yard during a strong thunderstorm to compromising your surrounding greenery, these structures can cause hundreds—if not thousands—of dollars in damages. Before risking sustaining damages from fallen branches, inspect your trees for signs of diseases and then call a tree removal service to remedy the problem. Below are three ways to spot a sick tree.

3 Signs Your Tree Has a Disease

1. Brown or Yellow Leaves

Look at the leaves often to make sure they’re healthy. Some signs of unhealthy leaves include mildew, holes, and an unusual change in color. If you notice yellow or brown leaves, along with slow growth, your tree might have armillaria root rot. It’s a fungus that comes from the soil, so you might also see fungus growing at the base of the tree. This issue kills the trunk—though large trees can last years with the fungus. It’s best to schedule tree removal services to prevent the issue from spreading.

2. Black Flowers or Shoots

If the flowers and shoots turn black, it’s likely the tree is infected with fire blight. This is a contagious disease that is most common in fruit trees, especially apple and pear. It’s called fire blight because the infection looks like scorch marks on the leaves and bark. There are several ways to fight this disease. Remove anything that falls from the tree, as rotten fruit or branches can reinfect it. Prune affected branches to help the tree recover. However, if the structure is fully infected, tree removal will be necessary. 

3. Peeling Bark

Some trees naturally have peeling bark. These include silver maple, birch, and sycamore. You can determine normal shedding by peeling off some bark and looking underneath. If you see new bark, there is nothing to worry about. If it’s bare, it can be a sign of hypoxylon canker, a fungal disease. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for this disease, so it’s best to contact a tree removal service to uproot it. 

If you have spotted several sick trees on your property, contact a tree removal service immediately to prevent the diseases from spreading to nearby greenery. Alton Tree Services has been serving residents and business owners across Hartford County, CT, for more than a decade. They offer emergency tree removal services, stump grinding, and stump removal. Visit their website to browse their offerings or call (860) 236-8027.