Five Reasons That Your Tree Might Die

Trees have an amazing ability to survive numerous harmful agents that are always in their surroundings.

We realize that all trees ultimately die. There are many hundreds of saplings and seedlings that die for each mature tree left in the woods. All ages of trees at some point die to usually the same agents and only the lucky and most adaptive ones make it to old age.

The reason that a tree might die can be one of many: the environment, diseases, insects, catastrophic event, harvest, and old age. In most instances, death is due to a combination of one or more of these reasons.

Bad Environment

Examples of a dangerous environment for trees include:

• Salty Soils
• Ground and Air Pollution
• Extreme Heat or Cold
• Droughty Soils
• Poorly Draining Soils

It is very critical to know your tree species' tolerance to environmental conditions when planting. Some trees adapt very well to dangerous sites, but you need to know which species fits in where.

Harmful Diseases and Insects

Three common diseases are horrible: oak wilt, anthracnose, and root rot. These pathogens attack the tree through bark wounds, roots, and leaves, damaging a tree’s vascular system if left untreated. Prevention is the only affordable option.

Destructive insects are cunning and typically invade trees that are stressed out from diseases or environmental issues. They directly cause trees to die and will spread deadly fungus from the host trees to surrounding foliage. Insects can strike a tree's cambial layer by hunting for food, or they can destroy a tree to death. Examples of bad insects are emerald ash borers, gypsy moth, and pine beetles.

Catastrophic Events

A catastrophic event is always probable in an urban setting and a huge forest. Trees are subject to being destroyed or damaged. In many instances, trees aren’t killed but are damaged to the point where there’s no energy to resist disease and insects.

Old Age

For trees who defy the odds and get to old age, there is a slow dying method that might take years to be done. This is because a tree compartmentalizes around diseased and damaged areas, continuing to grow. To learn if your tree is infested with insects or disease, call a Rochester arborist.​

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