What You Need to Watch Out For
Autumn is well and truly here, and with that come changes to the plants and trees in the garden. Because of these changes, it can be hard to spot any issues with your trees. This means that problems that could be trusted early could go on to develop into serious issues that either cost a lot of time and money to resolve or have gone too far to treat. So here is what is normal for a tree during autumn and what isn’t, and how a trusted Kent tree surgeons could help.
Leaves changing colour
During the autumn months, the leaves on many trees turn orange or yellow. This is totally normal and isn’t something that should cause any concern. However, if you notice that the leaves are changing colour at the wrong time of year or you have an evergreen tree and the leaves suddenly change, then that could be a sign that something is wrong. Learn what’s normal for your tree and trust your instincts if something doesn’t seem right.
Leaves falling
After the leaves have changed colour, they begin to fall off. Again, this is a perfectly normal thing to happen to most trees in the autumn months. The only annoying thing is having to sweep all of those leaves up! If you think that the leaf fall is excessive or it is happening a little early, then it could be a good idea to have your tree looked at. Leaf fall is one of the most common signs of tree disease, so it’s always worth getting it checked out if it doesn’t fit the usual pattern.
Signs of disease
Now you know what’s normal, it’s time to look at what isn’t. Here are some of the signs that you should always be looking out for:
- Sparse or dead branches
- Cracks or splits in the trunk
- The tree is leaning with displaced soil around the base
- Bark that is falling off in large pieces or looks damaged
- Cankers or lesions
- Sap oozing from holes in the trunk
- Mushrooms or other fungal growth at the base of the tree
- Visible damage or decay to the roots
- Stunted growth
- Brittle branches that break or fall to the ground easily
Always call in a tree surgeon
If you think that something is wrong with your tree, then it’s time to give a trusted local tree surgeon a call. They will be able to tell you what the problem is right away. If there are no issues that need sorting, they can also carry out routine maintenance like pruning to help your trees grow back stronger next year. So it’s always worth giving them a call!
What to do next
Now that you know what is normal and what isn’t for a tree this autumn, you’ll feel much better equipped to keep an eye out for any issues. If you do spot something that doesn’t seem right, call in the experts right away.
