Oak trees are a majestic and iconic part of the landscape in many parts of the United States. However, recent studies have shown that oak trees are dying at an alarming rate. From the sudden oak death syndrome (SOD) to other diseases, numerous factors make it hard for oak trees to thrive.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss why oak trees are dying, what you can do to help protect them, and why preserving these beautiful trees is so important.
What is Causing Oak Tree Mortality?
Oak tree mortality has been linked to climate change, disease, pests and insects, fire suppression practices, habitat destruction, and urban development. The most significant factor contributing to oak tree mortality is sudden oak death syndrome.
SOD is caused by a pathogen known as Phytophthora ramorum which infects oaks through leaf litter or contaminated plants and soil. Other factors like drought and extreme temperatures can also cause stress on oaks, leading to further decline in their health.
Additionally, increases in air and soil pollution have made oak trees more vulnerable to disease, making them susceptible to the damaging effects of bacterial infections and fungal blight.
Groundwater depletion due to unsustainable industrial farming practices and overpopulation has also decreased the health of many oak trees. As a result, proactive steps must be taken to reduce these negative environmental factors if we want this iconic tree species to remain healthy and remain important in our ecosystems.
What an Arborist Can do to Help
Tree Maintenance to Improve Oak Tree Health
Hiring an arborist for tree maintenance can be immensely helpful if you have oak trees on your property that are showing signs of distress. An experienced arborist will be able to assess the condition of the tree in question and provide pruning or other recommendations, to help revive the tree and prevent any further damage.
It is also important to note that have an arborist inspect a sick tree with a trained eye can save healthy ones, as proactively attending to the affected trees can protect nearby foliage. Many arborists specialize in oak species and offer valuable insight into proper care and longevity.
With our unique knowledge and expertise, the experienced arborists at Iron Tree are a great source of information when attempting to protect your oaks to ensure that they remain healthy for years to come.
Sometimes Oak Tree Removal Is Necessary
As arborists, not only can we provide advice on how to best manage your trees, such as pruning and care instructions, but we also know how to safely remove a diseased tree with minimal impact to other elements of your landscape.
Furthermore, our extensive knowledge and expertise will help you make decisions about the need for removal based on the potential safety hazards posed by the impact of diseased oak trees, weak branches or damaged trunks or tree roots.
Hire the Best Tree Service in Massachusetts
Sadly, In the end, dying oak trees are something that should not be ignored. It is important to take notice of any changes, such as discoloration or wilting, and take immediate action.
Early detection of diseases can prevent a tree from dying prematurely and save you money in the long run. At Iron Tree, we specialize in tree maintenance to help ensure that your oak trees don’t become a hazard on your property. Iron Tree can safely remove old and diseased oak trees when necessary. It’s best to call us before a fellen oak tree can cause harm to other nearby trees, people or property. Contact us today for a free quote!
Read the 5 Star Yelp Review for Oak Tree Removal by Iron Tree Service in Medford, MA
“Iron Tree Service recently removed a 200+ year old Oak Tree from our backyard in Medford. This thing was massive. Towered over the neighborhood. The stump cut is about 7 foot in diameter. We have a very tight backyard. The driveway is too narrow for any of their trucks. They had to park in an adjacent street a few houses over, angle their cranes over the electrical wires, and navigate various neighboring trees to take our Oak out. And yet they managed it in half a day and were consummate professionals from start to finish.
Shout out to Tim who managed this project and worked with me to get it all set up.
Iron Tree wasn’t the cheapest of the quotes I got, but their price was more than fair for the quality of the work and competence of the workers. You could tell they knew exactly what they were doing.”
Ryan J.
Medford, MA – 1/18/2022
