This spring, as you start to do yardwork outside, make sure that you inspect all of your trees for signs of trouble. If you spot these signs of trouble early on, you may be able to save your tree before it is damaged beyond repair.

#1 Leaf Fall Pattern

The first thing you need to pay attention to is the leaf fall pattern. If your leaves fall early before all the other leaves in the neighborhood, and your leaves don't look normal, that is a sign that your tree has contracted some type of disease. On the flip side, having leaves that never fall or fall really late can also be a sign of disease as well.

#2 Thinner Canopy

If there are other similar types of trees nearby, you can look at the other trees and compare the canopy. Trees of a similar age and the same type of species should have similar sized canopies. If you have one tree that has a noticeable thinner canopy than all the others, it may be infected with some type of disease. If you have similar trees nearby, it is vitally important that you get that tree inspected by an arborist and treated right away so the disease affecting one of your tree does not spread to the other trees.

#3 Bark Falling Off

Bark should not fall of of your tree. If there are excessive area where bark is peeling off of your trees, that can be another sign of disease. It can also be a sign that a pest, such as a woodchuck, is attacking your tree and eating the bark. Either way, the health of your tree is in jeopardy. When the bark is removed from your tree, your tree is more vulnerable to infection by insects, which could further compromise the health of your tree.

#4 Sawdust At The Base

Your tree should not generate sawdust on its own. If you find sawdust at the base of your tree, that means a wood-eating animal or insect is turning your tree into their source of food. If treated right away, your tree may be able to be saved.

#5 Dead Branches

Finally, a sure sign that something is wrong with your tree is if you have dead branches that are not growing any new leaves or growth on them. These dead branches may have even cracked and are vulnerable to falling off your tree.

If you notice any of the signs above, you need to contact a tree company to come out and inspect your tree. Let them know the signs you see that your tree may be diseased or infected, and allow them to inspect your tree to come up with a formal diagnosis and treatment plan. If caught early enough, your tree may be able to be saved. If it was not caught early enough, your tree may need to be cut down by a place like Johnson's Tree Service & Stump Grinding.