One thing about winter storms is they blow off almost any leaves remaining on deciduous trees. Every time a cold front arrives from the northwest, the winds pick up and the yard must be raked again.
To conserve labor the homeowner could wait until all the leaves are down before raking, but procrastination can cause other problems. Too much mulch on the lawn will encourage disease resulting in bald spots, and there can be “issues” with homeowner’s associations that have no understanding of delaying the inevitable.
There are, however, a few good benefits to having the leaves off the trees during the cold season. The most obvious is being able to see the trunk and branches of the tree, and assessing them for damage and disease.
This arboreal evaluation is a necessary task to determine if any of the trees are candidates for removal and replacement. A tree which has excessive potential to inflict damage to structures or occupants is an excellent contender for removal.
A tree canopy with broken branches is a good indication the tree is in declining health. It is a good time to have a qualified arborist evaluate the tree and determine future actions.
Look at the crown or top of the tree. If it is dead or dying, then the tree is in decline and has little time left.
Without the leaves obscuring the branches, the viewer can see if they are complete or broken. Those with multiple breaks, peeling bark, mushrooms or mistletoe likely have a problem.
If some or all of these symptoms are present, it will necessitate an assessment by a certified arborist. These professionals have the credentials and experience to determine the best course of action.
Another problem which can be exposed in winter is bifurcation. This is a five-dollar term for a fork in the trunk, and it can be a detrimental weakness in the tree’s structure.
Granted, some trees are known for their multiple trunks. Live oaks, for example, have a widely spread canopy supported by branches spreading to cover hundreds of square feet.
But as these trees age, water can pool where the trunk splits into the branches. The chronic dampness will attract insects and promote disease.
Bradford pears are another tree cultivar known for multiple branches which weaken the trunks. Both trees can be subject to wind damage which is usually fatal to the tree.
Pines are another common tree which may have a fork in the trunk. As with the others, too much leverage from storm winds will split the trunk and kill the tree.
The heavy presence of lichens may indicate a health problem, and mushrooms are definitely a sign of a dying tree. Both are opportunistic parasites, but they are not the cause of the tree’s decline.
An exception is crape myrtles which may have a lichen presence on their bark before it peals off. In this case the lichens are just feeding on decaying bark the tree is casting off.
Lastly, a long streak on the tree’s trunk could indicate a lightning strike. The high voltage hit almost always kills the tree.
It may take a few months, but the evidence is undeniable and the fatality inevitable.
Look up while raking the leaves this (and every) winter. Know what is happening behind the leaves.
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