How to Give Your Trees a Stress Test

Your trees get stressed, did you know that? Trees are just like everything in nature, wrestling with the elements and unpredictable circumstances. Often, climate is the biggest cause of stress for trees. It could be that the trees aren’t getting enough water since there is a drought. Sometimes, there may be too much water and they can get waterlogged. Occasionally, they face problems from snow or ice.

Of course, there are other things that cause stress for trees as well, including (but not limited to): pruning, infestations, chemical usage, children, pets, wild animals, and even yardwork.

Your trees may be stressed, so you need to know the signs and what you can do to help.

Why Do Trees Get Stressed?

• Infestations from certain animals & pests
• Climate problems such as drought, ice, wind, and snow
• Use of chemicals in yard work

Think about all of the things in your life that may cause you stress – there are probably a lot of them. There are even some things that cause you stress that you may not even be able to explain: the same thing can be said about trees.

Almost everything can cause a tree stress, from things that are supposed to be good for it, like pruning or laying down mulch, to things that we know are bad, like compacted soil and infestations.

Sometimes, it may take weeks or months for the signs of stress to set in and become noticeable to the human eye – and often, only tree care professionals can spot when something has gone truly wrong. According to Iowa State University, lawnmowers are actually one of the biggest sources of stress for trees. We tend to run into trees, chop into roots, and generally just destroy the happy home that the tree has created. Be careful when you are mowing your lawn and be sure to inspect your trees after any yardwork.

Symptoms Of Tree Stress

• You may not notice signs of stress for months or even years
• Fungus may cover the tree or the roots
• Cracks can start to appear on the trunk of the tree

According to AccuWeather, there are six main signs of tree stress that you should be on the lookout for – of course, these are also signs of other problems as well.

The first sign is for younger trees. Sometimes, trees won’t sprout properly once they have been planted. This could be caused by stress. Another sign in newer trees is that the tree becomes wilted or somehow looks smaller, it stoops over a little bit.

Another sign is that there are mushrooms or fungus over the tree, especially on the bottom of the trunk and around the root system. Mushrooms can continue as far as ten feet away from the tree because of the roots underground. Trees may also have extremely large leaves or excess leaf production as well as cracks in the trunk.

Finally, trees may show signs of stress through a process called chlorosis, which is when photosynthesis cannot convert sunlight into sugars. You will notice that the canopy of your tree turns yellow.

How To Prevent Tree Stress

• Be sure to keep your tree watered properly
• Check for any infestations or diseases that can cause stress
• Add mulch to help support the natural growth of your trees

The best thing you can do for your trees is to help them avoid stress altogether. You can do this by taking proper care of them, ensuring you get professional help when you need it, and just paying attention to their needs.

You want to ensure they have the nutrients they need, nothing is zapping them of energy, and that you are careful with their roots and trunk. If something goes wrong, you need to get to action as quickly as possible.

According to the University of Massachusetts, “Perhaps nothing is more important in preventing stress than the proper planting of trees. Research has shown that a tree planted at the correct depth, in a hole of sufficient size to accommodate the tree’s expanding root system, has a much greater chance of survival than an improperly planted one.

What To Do If You Think Your Trees Are Stressed

• Monitor your tree to see if the symptoms get worse
• Contact a tree care professional if something goes wrong
• Try to anticipate stress

If you think that your trees are stressed and you are already seeing signs of that stress, it is almost too late for you to do something productive. Now is the time to contact a professional who can help you.

Tree care professionals are trained to look for signs of stress, treat the symptoms, and help to remove the cause. Eliminating the stress and treating its effects are important steps to saving the life of your tree. The earlier you can catch it, the better.

Look for tree care professionals in Kalamazoo, MI that specialize in tree stress and taking care of trees that are experiencing extreme signs of stress. Often, this will include doing a tree risk assessment that looks at every inch of your tree to see if there are signs of problems. We can help you to avoid the problem from happening again, giving your trees the chance of a better life.

Do you think that your trees are stressed? Want to help them flourish? Our team can help you to get a stress test for your trees, treat any of the symptoms that have emerged, and even prevent the stress from occurring. If you believe that you have a problem with the trees or in your yard, give us a call today at (269) 216-6811. We’d love to chat about how we can help you. There is no job too big or too small – contact our professionals today!