Having trees on your property is beneficial. They provide shade, clean air, and protection against flooding. In addition, if the trees look well-maintained and healthy, they add value to the property. However, sometimes, there are unfortunate incidents when you find something unusual, like when your trees suddenly deteriorate.
In residential areas, usually, properties are divided by fences. And since trees are naturally taller than most fences, the falling leaves tend to go to the neighbors’ yards. Sure, you can call an arborist for regular pruning or tree removal services.
But what if your neighbour does something about the trees without even consulting you? If your usually healthy trees suddenly deteriorate, observe if it’s being poisoned. Of course, you shouldn’t be so certain that your neighbour did it. If you spray herbicides and other chemicals on the trees, check first if you apply the right amount.
There are many signs that a tree has been poisoned, and if you want to know them, you should check the list below!
1. Cuts and other injuries
One of the most obvious signs that a tree has been poisoned is when it has some cuts and other cracks on the trunk. If the bark starts to peel off the bark of the tree, it might be the first sign that it has been poisoned.
In terms of deliberate damages such as drill marks, there’s a possibility that the tree has been injected with poison. It doesn’t matter how to bid or small the damages are. If the damages are not there before, you should start to worry.
Just to make sure, you can contact your local arborist so they can conduct a tree cheque-up. And if it’s positive, they can easily control the damage.
2. Smells weird
Do you smell something weird near the tree on your property? If it smells like a chemical, it may be ammonia or sulphuric acid. These chemicals can damage and poison trees, mainly when too large an amount has been applied.
Meanwhile, if you can’t distinguish the smell coming from the tree, it’s best if you don’t go too near. Since you’re not sure about it, it’s best to call a professional arborist and let them do t for you.
Imagine, since chemicals can damage trees, it’s possible that they can also harm human health. As people always say, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
3. Your skin might get irritated when you touch the tree
When you’re checking the tree, it’s natural that you touch the bark. Unfortunately, if the tree has been poisoned, touching it might irritate your skin and you’ll have some rashes. Aside from skin damage, you can also have nausea, diarrhea, and fever.
If ever you feel these symptoms, it’s best if you go to the emergency room to get treated. But if your skin didn’t react, you should still wash it after touching the tree. After that, call your local arborist to have the tree tested. Whether the tree is poisoned or not, it’s better to be checked immediately.
4. Yellow and wilted leaves
If it’s not yet the Fall season and you notice a huge amount of leaves falling from your tree, there must be something wrong. If you look at these falling leaves and you see that they’re yellow (and sometimes with brown or white spots).
When this happens, it usually means that the tree is poisonous since the toxins in it can kill the leaves. So before the last leaf falls, maybe there’s something more to do to prevent the poison from spreading.
You can look for testing kits that might be able to tell if the tree has been poisoned.
5. Too much moisture
If you think the tree has too much moisture, you can test it using the soil moisture test. Typically, if a tree is surrounded by soil with too much moisture, it’s sick. Once you confirm that the tree is sick, ask for professional help to identify the causes.
Once they’ve identified the main cause, you should also hire them to cure the tree before it’s too late.
Trees are like humans. They have their own lives that may end when they get old. Unfortunately, some circumstances prevent them from living their lives. And instead, they die earlier than expected.
So if you have trees around you, appreciate the benefits they give, and try to take care of them. They’re low-maintenance, so simply observing them from time to time would suffice.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Aliana Baraquio is a web content writer working for Sydney Tree Solutions, a company that provides tree removal and arborist services throughout Sydney. As a writer, she is passionate about providing good quality articles that help readers make the right choice.