When the word summer comes to mind, most people visualize images of sun-kissed leaves and warm days. The thought of trees dressed in their summer leaves is something that brings delight to those that love summer. The sight of leafless twigs, however, isn’t quite as cheery. Aside from being unattractive, the absence of leaves on a tree is a sign of trouble brewing underneath the surface—and it’s about a lot more than tree-pattern baldness. This particular balding problem affects trees of all kinds, with instances spanning from birch trees to maple trees. To better understand why some trees may fail to be at their summer best, let’s take a look at two cases where one may not have as many leaves as it should.
When a tree has no leaves on its top, most people assume that it is dead or about to die—which can be true in some instances. Should you find your tree without leaves at the top, know that its life may be at stake. Worry not, however, because most, if not all issues that cause trees to go without leaves on top can actually be remedied with the right procedures. To fix a tree balding problem correctly, let’s look at the two main causes of why trees lose their leaves on top and how you can address them:
1. Verticillium Wilt
This particular type of fungus is commonly associated with leaves dropping at the top of the tree. Verticillium Wilt causes the upper leaves on a tree to wither, curl, and then turn brown. This phenomenon can affect maple, ash, elm, linden, and redbud trees. How can you fix it?: Before all else, make sure that the presence of Verticillium Wilt is confirmed by an arborist. Once confirmation is granted, apply the required amount of fungicides and pruningto ease tree stress before you remove the entire tree. Doing so may seem extreme, but it is a precautionary measure to prevent the fungus from spreading.
2. Girdling roots
Aside from Verticillium Wilt, Girdling roots are one of the most common causes behind trees losing their top leaves. Girdling roots cause the tops of trees to go bald because they wrap around the trunk in such a tight manner, cutting off the necessary water flow to the top for growth. When a tree doesn't receive the water and nutrients that it needs, it typically responds by dropping leaves from up top. How can you fix it?: The best way to fix this situation is to prune girdled roots in order to relieve the tree of pressure. That said, make sure that a professional does the pruning because the girdled root removal process can be quite difficult and detail-intensive.
The reason why birch and ash trees are isolated cases is that the factors that cause their top leaves to fall off are much more different from those found in other types of trees. In order to better understand these isolate balding cases, let’s look at both trees in detail:
The most common cause of birch tree balding is the bronze birch borer, a type of pest that only infiltrates birch trees. The quickest way to spot a birch tree that will soon be balding as a result of of the bronze birch borer is to check for these key symptoms:
How can you fix it?: A case of the bronze birch borer can be solved easily by applying a special insecticidefrom early to mid-May. At the same time, continuous watering and application of fertilizer are necessary for the tree’s nourishment.
Ash tree top leaf balding is typically the result of emerald ash borers, pests similar to bronze birch borers that exclusively affect their namesake tree. A top leaf balding can be spotted right away through these particular symptoms:
How can you fix it?: Should your ash tree be an optimal candidate for preservation, opt to avail of an arborist’s services. A case of the EAB can prove to be a complicated process for those who aren’t too familiar with it.
Whether your tree is dealing with fungi or pests, make sure that it gets the attention that it needs in a prompt manner. If you fail to address any treetop issues, you will soon be watching it spread to other trees as well. If you’re looking for a professional tree removal service, Brett Tree Service is your best option. We provide a wide range of options that can take care of any tree-related issues on your property. Contact us today for a freeconsultation.
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