Arbor Aesthetics Tree Service - Professional Tree Trimming & Tree Removal - Omaha, NE
  • Residential Services
  • Free Proposal Request
  • Commercial Services
  • Our People
  • Careers
    • Employment Application
  • Customer Portal
  • Gift of Beautiful Trees
  • Blog

Is your tree DOOMED? 5 symptoms of a haunted tree!

10/30/2016

40 Comments

 
Picture
This Halloween, you might be heading to a haunted house to get your fix of ghouls, goblins and witches. But but you may only have to go as far as your own backyard to witness the horrors of imminent death. The death of your tree, that is! 

Here are 5 symptoms that your tree may be haunted, and if it is, "Who you gonna call?"  Arbor Aesthetics!

Oh, and that photo of the bloody tree? Don't be scared, that's just a Dragon Blood Tree! 

1)  Strangling
A stem girdling root could be strangling your tree and preventing the flow of nutrients through the trunk! These are often the result of improper planting or poor growing practices in the nursery. Ideally, these roots should be removed when the tree is planted, but you can also remove or sever the root later in its life to stop its growth. Planting a tree too deeply and soil compaction can also cause roots to grow in this manner. Click here for more information on removing girdling roots.
Picture
University of Maryland
2)  Oozing
Slime flux, or bacterial wetwood, presents itself as dark streaks of liquid running down a tree, usually originating from a wound or a crack. It's the result of stress from things like soil compaction or internal damage. The slime is a defense mechanism and does no harm to the tree, however the slime may kill any grass or plants growing at the base of the tree.

You don't need to treat slime flux, but it's a symptom that shouldn't be ignored and it's an opportunity to address the cause of this condition so your tree won't be DOOOOOOOMED!
Picture
University of Maryland
3)  Strange Growths
Fruiting bodies like the one pictured to the right are a sign of extensive internal decay. Fungi enter trees through bark wounds and dead branch stubs, then decay the heartwood and sapwood - the living wood of the tree that transfers nutrients up and down the trunk. You may often see them growing at the sight of where a branch was once removed improperly, which is why proper pruning is important. Remember to leave the branch collar intact when pruning limbs. More on that here.

​If you see fruiting bodies, it's time to call an arborist to inspect the structural integrity of your tree.
Picture
University of California
4)  Gaping Wounds
Cracks and bark wounds are in invitation for bacterial and fungal infection. Bark is like skin - be gentle and treat it with care. Keep weed whackers away from the trunk. Do not drill holes into your tree for any reason. Make proper pruning cuts using sharp tools and educate yourself on how to make proper cuts so that the tree can seal over its wounds and prevent decay. 

​If you see a crack at a branch union like the one pictured or a crack in the trunk, steer clear of the area and call an arborist immediately!
​
​
Picture
5)  Dead Limbs
Dying branches here and there are a normal part of a tree's life. However, if you start to notice excessive die-back of limbs, or notice that the tree is prematurely losing leaves from the outside in, it may be a sign of root system problems, insect infestation, or disease. The tree is unable to effectively feed its canopy and it's time to look at and address factors that could be causing this.
Picture


Conclusion...
Okay, so your tree probably isn't "doomed," but it's important to know and be aware of symptoms of distress, like those listed above, so that you can take action to slow or prevent the death of your tree. Trees generally die a slow death, and more often than not, due to a number of factors. If in doubt, consult with an arborist for peace of mind!
FREE ARBORIST CONSULTATION

Sources: 
- https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/girdling-roots-trees-and-shrubs 
- http://extension.psu.edu/pests/plant-diseases/all-fact-sheets/wetwood-or-slime-flux
- ​http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74109.html
40 Comments
Jeremy Sessions link
11/9/2016 10:39:05 am

I'm an arborist in South Carolina and just launched my own website after 10 years of working in this business. Your blog is great, very informative. Do you keep up with it yourself? I may send links to it on my social pages occasionally for info if you don't mind. Great work!

Reply
Bob Lockwood link
11/13/2016 07:53:40 am

Hey you guys are awesome. I learn so much reading this blog. You are truly doing a great service to the tree industry and us guys that work in it every day. I didn't know about the roots being able to strangle the tree. This is some thing I can help people in my town with. Thanks

Reply
Don link
11/19/2016 05:55:00 pm

Hey this is so awesome! I just found you guys, and read this article, and had to comment. I am an arborist and tree service provider in Charlotte North Carolina, and you guys are spot on with everything you write. Keep it up. I am glad I bumped into this. There are a few things that I have already printed out to reference to some customers that have asked me this week. Thanks!

Reply
Tree Service Palm Harbor Fl link
12/1/2016 01:19:08 am

Wow that was a great post, seriously an attention grabber. When you have slime flux is it usually on other trees within a close proximity? Thanks.

Reply
stump grinding link
2/17/2017 11:46:55 pm

Thank you for this article because it’s really informative, I love reading your article and I hope that I will read some more about this stuff, it’s really informative. Thanks a lot and have a great day.

Reply
Josh Anthony link
3/23/2017 01:24:58 pm

Hello,
This is absolutely a great article regarding over simple information about your trees diseases, ingrowth problems and other specifications. I wanted to say how I was impacted about number 3 and couldn't help but say good work on informing the society with informative legit info about our trees health. I wanted to ask if bacterial, fungus and other insect infestation are all categorized to the same specification or could it be in its own. Needing more info regarding over that and really clarifying and understanding the methods of how trees get sick and how they die if there not well taken care of. Needless to say, great job in the article and hopefully you can return with a response soon!

Reply
lenny strin link
4/7/2017 04:42:54 am

Article is very awesome but title is very scary.

Reply
William Johnson link
5/17/2017 07:15:03 am

Hello,
This is an informative article. Thank you for this article because it’s really informative, I love reading your article and I hope that I will read some more about this stuff.

Reply
assurance trees link
5/30/2017 12:50:47 am

Thanks for this wonderful article. I would love to learn more about what else arborists do. I think what they do is an art and it takes a lot of patience to develop such a talent.

Reply
Lynn link
8/3/2017 05:49:21 pm

We had 5 trees on our property in Salem, Oregon and thanks to a local tree service (found at http://oregonwoodsmen.com/) we learned a lot about them. The bad news: we discovered 2 were showing these signs and had to remove them. The good news: we were able to salvage the other 3 and the Oregon Woodsmen team told us of all these symptoms and how to prevent them. It's summer now and all 3 are producing fruit!

Reply
Kenneth Gladman link
8/28/2017 06:03:26 pm

I like that you mentioned keeping the weed whacker off of the tree trunks when using it. My son has a bad habit of not being very careful around our trees. There are some visible scars now from the wire. I might see if an arborist can diagnose if it is a problem.

Reply
Alan link
9/12/2017 08:51:26 pm

Very much on point. Thanks for also including the sources.

Reply
Arbor Design link
10/12/2017 12:42:29 am

Wonderful explanations on the various "horrors" a "haunted tree" portray. Very fitting for Halloween! Your photos are great to capture exactly what it is you're pointing out.

With pictures like these, it's easy to know what to look out for so you don't end up having to bring a tree back from the dead.

Keep up the great work!

Reply
Theodore W. link
10/18/2017 08:33:18 am

I didn't know that the growth of fungi on a tree is a sign of a tree's declining health. We've grown a few trees in our yard and I did notice fungi blooming in some of them. I'll discuss this with an arborist once I found one. Thanks for the great tips!

Reply
Jason T link
10/23/2017 10:35:22 pm

Excellent article. This is a easy checklist to add to my inspection forms. Do like the associated pictures and thorough description of each kind of symptom. Thanks for the informative article.

Reply
Duncan Paully link
11/18/2017 04:42:17 am

Hey you guys are awesome. I learn so much reading this blog. You are truly doing a great service to the tree industry and us guys that work in it every day. I didn't know about the roots being able to strangle the tree. This is some thing I can help people in my town with. Thanks

Reply
Kyle link
11/30/2017 10:19:08 pm

When I moved into my home there were several trees on the property. Some looked well, some.. not so much. But I didn't know what to do. I'm so glad I hired the team at Oregon Woodsmen (http://oregonwoodsmen.com/) because they assessed each tree and salvaged as much as they could. They told me how to maintain the trees that were left and ever since they've flourished! Don't ever give up hope on a tree until you've consulted professionals ;)

Reply
Todd link
12/4/2017 06:54:30 pm

So what about trees where the roots are growing above ground, is that an issue to be concerned about?

Reply
Amy
12/5/2017 07:09:24 am

Hi Todd! Roots growing above ground are not at all an issue, but in some cases may be an indicator of poor soil conditions, or compacted soil. Roots seek oxygen and nutrients. In this case, the roots may be close to the surface in order to reach oxygen. Be mindful of mowing over tree roots - it's very harmful and can introduce disease and decay.

Reply
Kenneth Gladman link
12/11/2017 05:05:59 pm

I like that you mentioned keeping weed whackers away from the base of your trees. When my son is out doing some yard work I notice he isn't as careful as he should be. I don't want to have any issues with the trees later on and the scars don't look good.

Reply
Michael link
12/13/2017 04:24:32 pm

I really enjoyed reading this article about how to determine if your tree is doomed or if it is totally fine. My girlfriend and I just moved into a new place with some trees in the backyard that might need some help. Because it is snowing and the winter time, it is hard to tell if the tree is dead or if it is simply restoring some energy for the spring. As you talked about, if there are dark stains on the tree or any kind of oozing, it is a sign of infection or internal damage. Thanks again for the post, and we will double check the trees before we call anyone to help us.

Reply
Advance Tree link
12/19/2017 09:07:06 pm

Top notch article and images to go with it that highlight what each issue is was a nice to add. Thanks for sharing your tree care expertise.

We wrote a similar article about when to call an arborist here: https://www.virginiabeachtreecare.com/when-to-call-an-arborist/

Reply
Roger Middleton link
1/8/2018 07:17:01 pm

I liked that you had mentioned that if there is an excess of dead limbs that it can be important to make sure that everything with the tree is working properly. My wife and I have been wanting to have a tree removed from our front yard for awhile now because it's slowly becoming more and more dangerous to our family. We'll have to start looking around for a removal service in our area especially since it's starting to look like a few of the limbs are dying like you had mentioned.

Reply
Chris S. Martin link
4/20/2018 12:51:54 pm

I didn’t know that pruning your tree could help save it, if it was infected. I think one of my trees could be infected. I should have someone come take a look and see if we can save it by pruning some branches off. Thank you for the information!

Reply
Jenna Hunter link
4/25/2018 05:47:10 pm

I didn't know that mushrooms growing on trees might be killing the trees or using too much of their nutrients. At my house, we have a variety of fungi growing around on the trees. Maybe I should get them looked at and make sure that the trees are okay, need trimmed, or removed completely if they are dead and might be in danger of falling.

Reply
Tree Service Phoenix link
5/5/2018 02:16:38 am

Thanks for posting these wonderful and awesome blog. The details which you have shared with us in these blog is really good and wonderful.

Reply
Karl Anderson link
7/4/2018 07:47:24 pm

I didn’t know that pruning your tree could help save it, if it was infected. I think one of my trees could be infected. I should have someone come take a look and see if we can save it by pruning some branches off <a href="http://www.johnscreektreeco.com/">Tree Removal Johns Creek</a> is the best for me..

Reply
Ray McIntosh link
7/16/2018 12:40:13 am

One of the most common signs of a supposedly haunted house is the lights turning on and off at random. But this paranormal myth is easy to say.

Reply
Mark Murphy link
8/15/2018 09:06:00 am

I really appreciate your tip to avoid drilling any holes into your tree for any reason if you want to keep them healthy! My brother wants to build a treehouse for his kids, and he is thinking of building a support on the branches of some of his trees. If he does any damage to the trees by drilling, he should hire professional tree removers so the tree doesn't get worse!

Reply
Sarah Smith link
9/25/2018 03:54:08 pm

We have a lot of trees in our backyard and one of the ones that we like to picnic by has started to grow a strange almost floral mushroom on its trunk. Your information that these growths are actually due to extensive eternal decay is really helpful. My husband and I will call a tree removal service soon so that they can cut the tree down before it is too weak to stand.

Reply
Bob link
2/21/2019 09:01:40 pm

I didn't know that fruiting bodies meant internal decay. That makes sense considering that it is an anomaly that is growing. I'll have to consider your tips so that I can keep my trees healthy.

Reply
Columbia SC Tree Company link
10/14/2019 07:54:40 am

As Halloween rolls back around almost two years later, the great info in this blog is still relevant. I plan to use the Information in this blog post to create educational literature for our clients here in Columbia SC. At Columbia SC Tree Company, we feel that it's important to not only solve our client's problems, but educate and empower them as well. Thank you so much for this post.

Reply
David Johnson link
12/19/2019 02:08:25 pm

It seems pretty nasty that there are fruiting bodies that can appear on the outside of extremely diseased trees. Today my mom asked me to come check some trees in her backyard which might be sick. If they are, we'll have to look into tree removal services.

Reply
Kate Welling link
6/3/2020 04:21:27 pm

My tree has dying branches. You said this is a sign of haunted trees. I will look for a tree service to remove it asap.

Reply
Rebecca Gardner link
8/5/2020 02:37:30 pm

It was interesting when you explained that trees can ooze harmless, dark slime if they're undergoing some sort of internal stress. The oak tree in my front yard has had a spot oozing dark liquid since we moved in last year, but I never realized it was indicative of a problem. I'll have to look for a professional to come treat the tree or remove it if it's too far gone at this point!

Reply
Zachary Tomlinson link
2/8/2021 08:54:01 am

My uncle noticed that his pine tree is showing signs of decay on its bark. I had no idea that this is a bad sign for the tree, and it should be serviced by an arborist. I'll go ahead and recommend this to him so that he could have it removed by an expert.

Reply
Andrew link
6/18/2021 02:13:26 am

I like the way you describe unhealthy trees are doomed. That's amazing! <a href="https://appliancerepairproselkgrove.com/refrigerator-repair/">concrete driveway repair</a>

Reply
Michelle link
10/11/2021 03:22:53 am

Great article! Thank you for sharing this informative post, and looking forward to the latest one.

Reply
Hailey Miller link
1/25/2022 02:46:04 am

Thanks for pointing out that cracks and bark wounds are an invitation for bacterial and fungal infections. I guess we should look for a reliable tree removal company on Monday that can remove the large trees with wounds in our backyard within two days. We're hoping to provide a safe and fun environment for our five kids since they love to play outside.

Reply
chainsaw training Brisbane link
8/6/2022 06:44:32 pm

Trees surrounding a home can reduce air conditioning bills by as much as 50 percent. These trees will clean the air, and serve as the number-one oxygen producer on the planet

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Amy Grewe, Certified Arborist & Co-Owner 

    Categories

    All
    Community Involvement
    Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)
    Our Company
    Our Work
    Pests & Disease
    Tree Care
    Tree Planting

    Archives

    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    February 2022
    October 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    November 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    August 2014


    Follow this blog
Picture
Member TCIA
Picture
Picture
Arbor Aesthetics Tree Service

Arbor Aesthetics Tree Service
6724 Irvington Rd, Omaha, NE 68122
402-408-5600
info@arboraesthetics.com
  • Residential Services
  • Free Proposal Request
  • Commercial Services
  • Our People
  • Careers
    • Employment Application
  • Customer Portal
  • Gift of Beautiful Trees
  • Blog