CONTRIBUTED CONTENT: Tree stress

Cringe is a word that has taken on a whole new meaning in the last 20 years that describes a social recoil to something kind of embarrassing that people may post. It now has become a whole genre. Creating hard-to-watch content that has morphed into cringe comedy. 

I am, however, referring to the original cringe usage. A knit brow, a frown and a visceral recoil to something unsettling. An example in the tree world would be finding the bands of staking rope/wire/plastic chain-lock left and forgotten around the trunk that is choking it to death. To me, that is worthy of a real grimace. A newly planted tree dying from string trimmer damage at the base is just as cringe. One that elicits an eye roll is when I hear folks talk about an early fall coming because the trees are turning colors already. Yes, we are getting closer to fall but with this amount of heat and sunshine still, early fall colors are a clear sign of tree stress, not autumn's nearing arrival. It takes cooler, shorter days to trigger natural fall colors. In conifers, it is seen in early shedding of interior needles. Whether native or planted ornamental trees, those in good mulched beds with supplied irrigation are thriving. 

Those that are not thriving are turning colors and or dropping needles and leaves. This is the tree's defense to the lack of water. Shedding the oldest needles/leaves it cannot support but retaining the newest foliage. You will see this commonly in River Birch. 

Pay special attention to early color change and dropping foliage to those trees in mulch and with water. This will be pointing to underlining stress as well. It could be too much water, a tree planted too deep, stem girdling roots or a disease like Phytophthora Root Rot. 

In the spring, most trees are coming out of dormancy pushing reserved energy from over the winter and appear healthy. This time of year, however, a stressed tree will show you plenty of signs it is not happy. 

To most folks, trees are quiet, growing organisms. To arborists, they are continually communicating about their condition, and many are screaming severe stress right now. 

Hopefully, cool weather with some decent precipitation will come our way soon but until then, take notice of the signs of tree stress. 

I’ll be kicking these articles back over to Devon for the month of September. 

As always, for further questions, quotes or consultations, give us a call today 208-762-5800! Grace Tree Service — Tree Removal & Pruning in Hayden, Idaho.