How to know if a tree is dying

Trees die, just as other organisms do, and will show some definite signs when they are dying or dead. The biggest mistake the average homeowner makes when buying a home or owning a home is that they don’t look up! Every once in a while when you are out working in your yard look up at your trees.  

Knowing what to look for when looking at your trees is important. You can see signs of a dying tree in the leaves, branches, bark and trunk.

Deciduous trees, which lose all their leaves each winter, have most signs in common with evergreen trees, which never lose all their leaves at once.  Deciduous trees may drop their leaves during the growing season if they are dying. If the leaves turn brown and brittle during the growing season, the tree may be dying. Yellow leaves on a tree that usually has green leaves are also a sign of a problem.

Evergreen trees will start to show red or brown needles. Once the top third of the plant has needles that are red or brown, the tree is definitely dying. Trees showing yellow needles are stressed and may be dying.

Look for holes, cracks and peeling bark. Bark will become loose and start falling off a dying tree. It may sport fungus or holes where wood-boring insects like Termites, Wood Cockroach or Paloverde Root Borer have made homes in it. Brittle bark is also a bad sign. Bark beetles indicate dying bark. Places that are bare of bark are a sign of problems, this means that side of the tree is not getting any nutrients.  Carpenter ants are a sign of deadwood. Rows of holes from boring insects are also a sign that the tree is in trouble.  Fungus on the trunk is a sign of dead and decaying wood.

When branches lose their bark, those branches are dead. A branch that is starting to lose its bark is dying. In extreme cases, branches will break off when dead. When too many of the branches break off, the tree will die. Note that some trees, such as pecan trees, are self-pruning and the lower branches will fall off when nothing is wrong with the tree.

Fungus may grow on dead branches. It only grows on decaying wood, so whatever portion of the branch it is on is dead. Wood boring insects will also move in when a tree is dying. Branches start showing holes where the insects have made homes or bored holes to eat the wood.

If you are cutting the grass and every week you have to pick up branches, then there is a good chance that the tree needs a little tree trimming. Sometimes it is a little harder to tell in the winter if you have any dead in the tree. If you know what you are looking for you will be able to spot some dead limbs. The best time to evaluate a tree is in the spring when the leaves come on. Look up into the canopy for branches with no leaves. If more then 1/3 of the tree does not have leaves then that is a sign that the tree might have to be removed. If you are not sure, call Goodfellers Tree Service at 540-710-9665 to have our ISA certified Arborist come out and take a look

Here is a great website on Signs of a dying tree:

http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/what-does-a-dying-tree-look-like-signs-that-a-tree-is-dying.htm

Asian Tiger Mosquitos in Virginia!

Each region in Virginia is unique as far as mosquitoes go. For example, only in the coastal communities will you experience the pesky "salt marsh" mosquitoes. If you live near woods that have a lot of standing water in the spring, you may notice the common spring time mosquito, Ochlerotatus canadensis.  

Most everyone has likely observed or been bitten by the Asian tiger mosquito also know as Aedes albopictus . The Asian tiger is an exotic and invasive mosquito that has become a significant pest throughout Virginia as well as other parts of the U.S.  Aedes albopictus is a mosquito native to the tropical and subtropical areas of Southeast Asia; however, in the past couple of decades this species has invaded many countries throughout the world through the transport of goods and increasing international travel.  It is characterized by its black and white striped legs, and small black and white striped body.  The insect is called a tiger mosquito because its striped appearance is similar to that of a tiger.

This mosquito has become a significant pest in many communities because it closely associates with humans (rather than living in wetlands), and typically flies and feeds in the daytime in addition to at dusk and dawn.   Like other mosquito species, only the females require a blood meal to develop their eggs. Female mosquito's drink blood from humans, domestic and wild mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds. Apart from that, they feed on nectar and other sweet plant juices just as the males do.  Male mosquito's, as well as very young mosquito's, are vegetarian and eat plant matter.

It is known that the Tiger Mosquito can transmit pathogens and viruses, such as the Yellow fever virus, Dengue fever and Chikungunya fever.  The tiger mosquito is also relevant to veterinary medicine. For example, tiger mosquitoes are transmitters of Dirofilaria immitis, a parasitic round worm that causes heartworm in dogs and cats.

Primarily, other mosquito larvae, flatworms, swimming beetles, fungi, ciliates, paramecia, protozoans which act as parasites, predatory copepods and spiders are natural enemies of the larval stage of Asian tiger mosquitoes. 

Asian tiger mosquitoes lay their eggs ONLY in "containers" of water or tree holes, however it only needs 1/4" depth to complete its life cycle. The larvae only take 5 to 10 days after hatching to go into the resting stage know as the pupa. Approximately 2 days later the adult mosquito is born. This mosquito does not lay her eggs in ground puddles, ponds, or ditches, and the best way to control the Asian tiger is by eliminating its breeding places. Some common eggs sites are old tires, flowerpots, buckets, kiddie pools, birdbaths, rain gutters, tree holes, even trash. Some eggs can also overwinter meaning they will stay in water when weather is to cold and will start their life cycle in Spring.

Learn more about the Asian tiger mosquito and ways to eliminate breeding places around your home.

http://www.mosquito-va.org/pdfs/asiantiger.pdf

Causes of Forest Fires

We are in the midst of Forest Fire season which runs from through October.  Although the risk wildfires is Virginia is, according to wildfiretoday.com, below normal to normal later in the season, there is no reason to not be diligent in protecting our forests and properties.  Having knowledge of the causes is a good start to preventing fires.  

Causes of Forest Fires

Wildfires can be ignited by a variety of occurrences. In addition to lightning, human-related activities start a large number of fires every year. Unattended or out-of-control campfires, a discarded burning cigarette, arson, or even equipment use can set off a blaze.

Once a forest fire has started, many factors contribute to its spread and intensity.

• Fuel - such as leaves, needles, grass, branches, and logs
• Weather, including temperature, humidity, precipitation, and wind
• Topography, or landscape of the area, as steep slopes offer greater potential for increased fire intensity and more obstacles for fire fighting.

More than 83% of forest fires in 2006 were started by human activities, accounting for the burning of nearly 4.4 million acres. However, lightning-caused fires burned more total area - nearly 5.5 million acres. *

* Source: National Interagency Fire Center

https://www.arborday.org/replanting/firecauses.cfm