Call us today at (603) 485-4761 or (603) 746-4868

The Nature of Tree Health Problems

Insects and diseases pose two of the most serious threats to your trees’ health. As soon as you notice any abnormality in your tree's appearance, you must begin a careful analysis to gain an understanding of the problem. By examining the specific symptoms of damage and understanding their causes, you can make a reasonable diagnosis of the problem and select the proper treatment. When uncertain, or to confirm your suspicions, be sure to contact us immediately.

Basic elements that promote plant health include sufficient water, optimum temperature and light, and a proper balance of nutrients. Too much or too little of any of these elements can cause stress. Environmental stress is the primary cause of most plant problems.

Stress may be classified into two broad categories: acute and chronic. Acute stress, which can be caused by such things as improper pesticide sprays, or untimely frosts or freezes, occurs suddenly and causes almost immediate damage. Chronic stress takes a longer time to affect plant health, and may be a result of nutritional imbalance, improper soil pH, incorrect light intensity, or other factors. To make matters worse, disease organisms and insects commonly attack an already-stressed tree, adding further damage to the existing symptoms. Provided that symptoms are recognized early, there is usually enough time to correct imbalances caused by chronic stresses, making them easier to deal with than acute stresses. Often, by the time an acute stress is apparent, the damage has already been done and the only thing left to do is learn from the experience and prevent it from happening again.

Plant Diseases

Whether on trees, shrubs, or other plants, plant diseases require three things to develop:

· Presence of a disease causing agent called a pathogen

· Susceptibility to that particular pathogen

· Environmental factors which can affect both the plant and the pathogen.

These three factors are subject to a great deal of variation, depending on the particular plant and pathogen involved. For example, genetic variability causes plants to respond differently to disease, just as it controls height variations, autumn color, and susceptibility to insect attack. Weather and soil conditions also have different effects on different plants. Diseases can be classified into two broad categories: those caused by infectious or living agents - those caused by non-infectious or non-living agents.

Insect Problems

Insects can cause considerable damage to trees and shrubs. By defoliating trees or sucking out their sap, insects retard their growth, weakening and sometimes killing them. By boring into the trunk and branches, they interfere with sap flow and weaken the tree structure to a point where it may be easily blown over by the wind. Insects may also carry disease by providing an entry way for fungi, bacteria and viruses. It is important to remember, however, that some insects are beneficial rather than destructive; they may help with pollination or act as predators of more harmful species. Therefore, killing all insects, without regard to their kind and function can actually be detrimental to tree health. Insects may be divided into three categories according to their method of feeding: chewing, sucking, and boring. Insects from each group have characteristic patterns of damage, which will help you determine the culprit and the proper way to get rid of it.

Collins Tree Service has licensed, highly qualified integrated pest management specialists to diagnose and treat all insect and disease problems which may attack your valuable trees and shrubs.