Trees add a lot to your home. They provide shade while adding color and appeal. However, they can also do a great deal of damage if they are unhealthy and dying. Some varieties of pine trees can grow up to 200 feet tall; unfortunately, if these trees are diseased or decaying in any manner, pine trees may break apart, falling onto your house or car. Thankfully, you can be proactive and save your pine from death and the destruction it could cause if it falls down.
Falling Branches
An occasional limb or branch that falls off your pine is not a cause for concern. On the other hand, if branches are falling continuously, this small issue can become a big problem.
The pine may be infected with a fungal disease, which can quickly take over the tree. Many of these fungal infections start on the pine needles, spreading through the tree, discoloring and decaying the green until it turns a yellow, brown, and then black color.
If you see discoloration, such as patches of powdery residue or branches that are falling, prune away the infected parts before the rest begin to fall.
Missing Bark
A healthy pine tree will have thick slabs of bark covering the entire exterior. A section of bark that is missing, loose, or dented is known as a canker.
Cankers are basically sores that signal dead parts of the bark. Determining what has caused the canker sore can be difficult because there are many infections and diseases that could harm your pine tree.
Without swift action, the disease will spread through the tree, eventually causing it to die and fall down. Applying a fungicide to your tree is imperative, but you should also trim off any branches and limbs that have canker sores.
Trunk Holes
Trees are actually amazing living things that know when they are under a great deal of distress. In many instances, pine trees will prune themselves by dropping limbs and branches.
As the branches drop, cavities may form in the trunk due to the abnormal imbalances in the tree's weight. These cavities are basically decayed areas of the trunk that cause holes to form.
Small cavities are not usually a problem. If your pine tree has developed numerous holes in the trunk or a few larger holes, the tree is decaying from the inside out and will eventually break apart and fall.
If you are noticing multiple falling branches, missing bark, or holes in the trunk, your pine tree is dying. Consider having the tree taken down by professionals before it falls and causes harm to your home and family. Contact companies like Johnson's Tree Service & Stump Grinding for more information.
