How to help a dying or stressed tree

A stressed or dying tree is able to be helped, hopefully to a point where it recovers.

What are the symptoms, does the tree look “sad”? Is the canopy sparse? Are the leaves discoloured? If deciduous has it dropped leaves at the wrong time of year? If evergreen has the natural loss of internal leaves (as they get shaded and inefficient at photosynthesisi) increased (appears sparse).

The first question to answer is has anything changed around the tree? Has ground level changed? Has a hard surface been installed near the tree? Has drainage changed around the tree? Has the ground under the canopy been compacted?

The next is has the tree been recently (within last five years) planted or transplanted? If so it should be being monitored and receiving aftercare (primarily watering, whilst its root system grows to that of a natural tree). Can the tree be rocked / is it secure in the ground?

Then, is the planting location sub optimal? Is there poor soil around the tree ? Is the tree mulched with woodchips? Are there hard surfaces or walls (reflected heat/poor percolation of moisture, poor gaseous exchange) around the tree? Is the tree the right species for the location? Does the ground around the tree drain or is it waterlogged or sodden for long periods? Is it leaning (a new lean)?

Finally are we in a period of hot and dry weather or a long period of high rainfall?

What can you do?

1) If hot and dry, water

2) If compacted, aerate (please call us for how to undertake this)

3) Add Soil Biology (please call us for how to undertake this), the symbiotic relationship between Soil Biology and the roots is crucial to the health of a tree. In addition compaction / hard surfaces / no mulch (or a mulch of stones) / poor soil will have degraded and killed Soil Biology

4) Mulch with woodchip. As this composts down, it feeds the Soil Biology with organic matter. It will boost Mycorrhizal Fungi activity by upto 15 times over just grass. It also suppresses (competing) weed growth.

5) Photograph the tree from set locations and then every two weeks (Apr-Sep) and compare.

6) If waterlogged, check if tree species suitable for this, if not either drain the soil or lift the tree so that around 20-30% of roots are above ground (with soil benched up around) and can breathe (undertake gaseous exchange).

7) Do not fertilise with chemical fertilisers, this will kill Soil Biology

8) If the tree has dropped leaves, check the cambium (see elsewhere in this blog), to see if the branch / trunk is still alive. If it is, the leaves have dropped as a reaction to stress (as they transpire/lose water) and the leaves should either re-flush or appear the following Spring. If the tree is dying back to a size it can support, please let it, it is also withdrawing the energy held in these branches.

We are happy to discuss how you can help your tree 01277 849990