Mature Trees are Struggling. Here are a few signs...

Certified arborists, based upon their experience and knowledge of various tree species in their normal and healthy state, assess ailing trees and determine causal agents that may arise due to cultural conditions or other significant events. Some internal abnormalities are detectable or indicated by outward physical changes or growths.

More specifically, there are a few signs that a tree may be in the early stages of decline:

• Most commonly, the first indication of tree decline is the random dieback of small branches in the uppermost areas of the canopy. Often, this dieback correlates with a loss of or lack of healthy roots.
• Some trees will be slow to "leaf out" in the spring or defoliate earlier than others of the same species in the fall. These trees are usually struggling to distribute adequate water or nutrients because of a disease or lack of rainfall.
• A short-term insect infestation or some oddly colored foliage can be another clue that a tree's immune system is not working at 100%.

Noticing these types of changes in a tree's appearance when they first arise, and providing an arborist with an accurate history of any environmental challenges, can help a certified arborist formulate a plan for supplemental treatments or pathogen management. By catching problems early before a tree enters the "spiral of decline," proper diagnoses and treatments will ensure that a tree lives for many years to come.

– posted 11/24/2025