Signs of Tree Health

I think my trees are healthy, but how do I know?

By the end of May, deciduous trees in the Appalachian region have completed the leafing out process. Arborist and homeowners will have noticed if a tree does not have a full canopy of leaf material.

Interior deadwood on hardwood and softwood trees is a normal function of the tree getting larger and less sunlight making its way into the inner canopy.
While this deadwood can and  should be pruned out for crown health and safety reasons, it does not indicate that a specimen is going into decline.

Dead branches in the outer third of the canopy that are otherwise not being blocked from sunlight can be a symptom of a tree going into decline. This process is called trenching and happens when trees move into old age, and do not have the resources under ground to maintain the canopy at the furthest extent.

The tree pulls back its energy reserves to lower areas and abandons the outer canopy. If caught early this process can sometimes be forestalled or even reversed. Perhaps avoiding a costly removal and loss of a tree that may have taken generations to grow.


Arborist love,
Jason