Lately have you put your eye on some trees and thought they were not in as good shape as they should be? Holes in the bark, a branch or two on the way out, leaves that seem off? You may be left to wonder if insects are to blame.
We of Curtis Point Tree Service put our experience to work for homeowners in Spokane County to shield their trees from the pests of the Inland Northwest. For a discussion of what is going on with your property, pick up the phone at 509-565-8403.
You will find insects in any healthy forest; it is only when the wrong kind of bug makes itself at home in the wrong tree that things can go downhill in a hurry. The sooner one spots the warning signs the better off you are to put the tree back in order. Too often we see a homeowner come to us with a tree in an advanced state of decline because the problem was not noticed in time.
What follows is an overview of the more telling indications of an insect assault and how to interpret them.
Start with the Bark
If you know where to look, the bark has its own way of revealing what is happening. Boring insects make their presence known. Put in a leisurely circuit of your property and give the trunk and the bigger branches a once over.
A few things to be on the lookout for:
- Beetles will have made small holes, round or D-shaped
- Frass, a sort of sawdust, at the foot of the tree
- Any sap or pitch tubes on the trunk
- Bark that comes away too easily or of its own accord
- Grooves or tunnels under the loose bark
- A woodpecker at work, which is usually a sign of insects within
Bark beetles are of particular concern in this part of the country, pine and fir being most at risk. They get under the bark and in most cases the tree is done for.
Leaves and Needles
Then there is the canopy. A sound tree’s foliage is full and of an even colour. One that is being hard pressed by insects will be patchy or discoloured.
Up in the branches you might find:
- Leaves of an unseasonal yellow, red or brown
- Evergreens shedding needles
- Webbing in the crotch of a branch or nests
- New growth that is curled
- Sticky residue on the ground or the leaves themselves
- Leaves that have been chewed to rags or skeletonised
Some defoliators can run through a tree’s leaves in a season. The tree may live to see another year but it is weakened and other issues will follow if the defoliation is repeated.
Dying Branches Don’t Lie
There is no mistaking a dead limb. Should you see branches dying from the top down or here and there in the canopy, an insect is likely the culprit. Borers will interrupt the water and nutrients in a branch and the portion above the damage will wither while the balance of the tree appears fine. That kind of unevenness is a sure sign the trouble is internal and not of the weather.
Besides being unsightly, a dead branch can come down without notice and put your car or house at risk, or someone in its path. If there are any overhanging a driveway or roof, make it a point to have them taken care of.
The Case for Acting Early
Drought and temperature extremes put enough strain on a tree in the Inland Northwest without adding in the pests. An already stressed specimen is an open invitation to insects, who in turn compound the stress. It is a vicious circle.
Manage the problem in time and you can put a stop to it. Be it treating the tree, taking out an infested limb or in some instances the whole tree, it prevents the spread to neighbouring healthy ones. Put it off and you are left with costlier remedies and less to choose from.
When in doubt, ask. There is a difference between a cosmetic blemish and a real infestation and a professional will spot it.
Curtis Point Tree Service is a family affair in every sense. We are locally owned and operated in Spokane County. Our owner, Curtis Point, is a third-generation logger with a thorough knowledge of these parts. We are fully licensed and insured and happy to provide free estimates and flexible payment options for those who require them. Our service area includes Cheney, Liberty Lake, Mead and Spokane Valley in addition to Spokane proper; we also do emergency work after hours.
Before the situation with a tree in distress becomes a hazard, let us have a look at it. Call 509-565-8403.