Mature trees, especially those that grow in urban areas, have a tendency to die due to mistakes done by people. As such, a dead tree is a common sight in the city. A tree dies naturally in a place after a varying number of years.
The tree depends on other trees and plants around it for its survival. It provides shade, shelter, and food for its surrounding creatures. But when it dies, it becomes a dead branch that can fall off and cause damage to anyone, including the people in your home.
This is why it’s important to know the signs that point to your tree being dead or dying. This will allow you to take care of the situation before it gets out of hand.
These are the signs that your tree is dead:
Tons of Sticks on the Ground
When a tree dies, it will lose most of its leaves. This is an indicator that your tree is now dead. However, leaves don’t fall in one day. Some trees may lose their leaves after three or four months. Their leaves will stay on the tree for a couple of months before they start to fall. So if you see a large number of leaves on the ground, that means your tree has died a long time ago.
Peeling Bark
Peeling bark is a telltale sign of a dead or dying tree. This is because the peeling bark is exposed to the elements which causes it to be dry and brittle. Trees try to protect themselves from the elements. So when they are unable to do so, it’s a sign that you need to do something about it soon.
Rot and Fungus
When a tree dies, its internal components will begin to rot. Any tree will eventually rot but what matters most is how long it’s been dead. For example, if your tree has been dead for five years, then the decay will be much deeper. But if the tree died one year ago, then the decay will be limited to the outer layers.
When the dead tree is more than half rotten, then it’s a sign that the tree is dying. If the tree is only rotting, then it’s not a sign that the tree is dying just yet. But it’s very much possible that the tree will start to rot after some time.
Leaning Tree
There are different reasons why a tree will lean to one side. It may be because of a storm, construction, or to make it more fit for the surrounding area. However, one thing that you should be aware of is that a tree that leans to one side is dying.
A leaning tree will eventually die because the trunk is no longer able to support the rest of the tree. If you want to save the tree, you should right it before going further downhill.
The Bottom Line
There’s no denying that trees have always played an essential part in mankind’s history. They provide us with food, medicine, and material to use in our everyday life. But even so, we can’t forget to value our trees.
If you’re taking care of a large trees and your tree has started to die, then you should immediately contact a tree service company to help you out. A tree will die eventually, but a dead tree can fall and cause serious damage to your property.
If you are looking for reliable tree services, we can help you. ATL Tree Work has been servicing the needs of Atlanta homeowners and businesses since 2003. We pride ourselves on consistently giving our commercial and residential customers exceptional results at affordable prices without compromising the quality of service. Contact us today to learn more or request a free estimate online!
