If a tree is suffering from a disease or insect infestation, sometimes it’s obvious, but other times, you have to know what to look for. A common myth is that there aren’t any visible signs of insects, so the tree isn’t in harm’s way of insect infestation.
Some harmful insects, such as the Bronze Birch Borer and the Emerald Ash Borer, don’t appear on the tree’s bark, instead making pathways under the bark to harm the tree from the inside out. It’s important to be accurately aware of the health of your tree and what is considered normal throughout the year.
Be on the lookout for slight or abnormal changes in the health of your tree, such as leaves changing color before their time, branches without leaves, raised bark, or holes drilled into the bark. All of these can be symptoms of insect infestation or disease. It’s imperative to have an arborist take a look to be able to identify the cause of the abnormalities.
