Cambridge Tree Services: 4 Signs of a Healthy Tree

Healthy and well-maintained trees provide many benefits for a backyard, including shade, natural beauty, cleaner air, and less soil erosion. However, unhealthy trees are not only unsightly to look at but can require a professional tree pruning service near me to cut their branches or remove the plant entirely. There are many hazards that come with dead or rotting trees, including the potential of branches falling on your roof and the increased likelihood of pests making a home inside the dead bark of the tree. Here are four signs that you have a healthy tree and some ways to keep it in good shape.

1. Durable Bark 

Strong and durable bark is one of the most common indicators that a tree is alive and healthy. What constitutes strong bark, however, can depend on the tree. For example, some birch trees have bark that peels naturally, like the white birch common in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. However, this could be a sign of an ailing tree in another plant species. If your backyard trees are not one of the types that peel or shed bark naturally, ensure that they do not exhibit those traits. For many types of trees, peeling, cracking, or loose bark is a sign that the tree is not healthy. On the other hand, strong and resilient bark is a good indicator that your tree is healthy and that you can keep maintaining it as you are.

2. Many Healthy Leaves

Many trees will not have leaves at certain times of the year, and this is to be expected. However, check your trees in the spring and summer to make sure they have complete coverage of foliage with minimal to no bare spots. There are many reasons that a tree might have less than healthy leaves, including:

• Damage from pesticide treatments
• Poor pruning jobs
• Invasions from pests such as ants, termites, caterpillars, and others
• Diseases
• Nutrient deficiency

Complete coverage of leaves not only ensures that your trees look nice from spring to fall but it also indicates that they are healthy and not in need of tree service in Cambridge. Look for full blossoms in the spring, coverage in the summer, and leaf colour in the fall that is appropriate to the tree species and to your geographical area.

3. Hearty Branches

The branches of a tree sometimes get overlooked as people tend to pay attention to its more colourful leaves. However, hearty branches are another good indicator that a tree is thriving in its environment. One sign of robust branches includes resistance to snapping and bending. Although this can be expected after weather events such as snow storms, thunderstorms, and hurricanes, branches that continuously bend and fall likely need to be pruned by a professional tree service. You especially want to avoid having a branch fall on your home, car, or a person in the backyard.

4. Growth Each Year

Since they tend to grow slowly, it can be difficult to observe a tree’s growth. However, if you want to keep a close eye on the health of your backyard trees, it might be a good idea to track their measurements monthly or yearly. In addition to safely measuring the height of the tree, you can opt to measure its girth as well. Measuring the circumference might be a safer option, especially if you have a tall tree. Keep in mind that all trees grow at different rates, with more slow-growing trees being eastern hemlock and Japanese maple.

If you need any assistance with pruning, planting, or outright removal of a tree, contact Martin’s Tree Service. We can safely and professionally help you with a wide variety of residential and commercial tree issues.