Should You Have A Sick Evergreen Tree Removed?
Posted on: 22 June 2016
Are your evergreen trees looking a little bit under the weather? If so, you may be worried that they are dying and that it is time to have them removed. Before grabbing an ax, read through the following guide to see if your trees actually need to be removed or if they simply need a bit more TLC.
Browning Needles
One of the more common complaints on an evergreen tree is brown needles. This is often most noticeable from late winter through early spring, and the cause is cold damage from either winter wind or winter freezes. You may even notice that the damage is most severe on the side of the tree that is most exposed to winter wind. Fortunately, most evergreens will recover if they are kept watered through spring and early summer. If the tree hasn't begun to recover after new needles begin to emerge in late spring or early summer, bring in a tree specialist. They can determine if the damaged branches can simply be trimmed off, or if the problem is too severe and recovery is unlikely.
Broken Branches
A large broken branch can cause major damage in an evergreen tree. As long as the trunk doesn't split from the break, the tree can likely recover. You will need to trim back the broken branch to the nearest fork in the branch or to the main trunk, since clean cuts heal better than ragged breaks. The loss of a major branch can also throw a large evergreen off balance, so you may need to bring in a professional to trim the rest of the tree to account for the lost limb. Finally, if the broken branch looks hollow or insect infested on the inside, you may have heart rot in the tree, which means it may need to be removed.
Dead Branches
Dying branches can be tricky to diagnose on your own. This is because some die back could be the result of natural processes, such as minor winter damage or temporary drought stress. The tree will likely survive if the damage is removed and it is properly watered and tended. On the other hand, severe branch dieback can be the result of disease or pests. In this case, the tree may need immediate removal so the problem doesn't spread to any healthy trees. Contact a tree removal firm like http://treesculptors.com for help in determining the cause of the dead branches so you can make the right call.
Share
