What’s Wrong With My Trees?
| Hatracking Removing 50% or more of the trees canopy, a practice called hatracking.It opens up the interior of the tree, making previously shaded portions vulnerable to sunburn. It will shock the tree by taking away the tree’s energy-producing canopy causing massive regrowth of weakly attached water-sprout sucker growth (epicormic branches) at each cut. All of which will lead to the decline and eventual death of the tree. |
 Hatracked Black Olive (Buceda buceras) |
| Lightning More lightning strikes occur in Florida than anywhere else in the United States. A lightning bolt can have a temperature as high as 60,000° F.After lightning strikes a tree, it’s electricity goes through the tree into the ground. The voltage of the electrical charge in lightning is about 10 million to 100 million volts. Less than half of all trees struck by lightning survive only for the moment. Tree Myth: Lightning does not strike in the same place twice. |
 Lightning strikes tree |
Soil Compaction A few common mistakes made by tree owners is to build or pave over roots, excavate on and around the tree trunk. The heavy equipment used in construction com-pacts the soil and can dramatically reduce the amount of pore space. This compaction not only inhibits root growth and penetration but also decreases oxygen in the soil which is essential to the growth and function of the roots. |
Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia) killed by building brick driveway on roots |
| Nutrient Deficiency (Chlorosis) Chlorosis is a general yellowing of the leaf tissue. Deficiency symptoms can be caused by high water tables, pH, disease, and soil conditions. These deficiencies can also be so slight that they are often confused with other problems. |
 Yellowing leaf of Hong Kong Orchid (Bauhinia purpurea) showing Chlorosis |
| Insects Insects can cause injury and damage to trees and by defoliating trees, sucking their sap, or boring into the trunk and branches. Insects may also carry some tree diseases. Sometime the insect problem is secondary to problems brought on by tree-stress or sickness. |
 Aphids on Summac tree |
| Cavities Cavities in trees are the result of storm damage, animals , insects, and improper cuts. They open up the tree to infections, bacteria, insects & disease. Cavities can also weaken the strength structure of the tree. |
 Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia) large cavity at base of trunk |
| Weedeater Rings (Cambium Layer Damage) The cambium layer (tree bark) is what transports the water and nutrients up from the roots to the leaves where photosynthesis takes place, sugars & carbohydrates are made then sent back down to the roots where the entire process starts again. Damaging these tissues by mowing or weedeaters stops this vital flowing process causing the tree to go into decline, then eventually die. |
 Satinleaf tree (Chrysophyllum oliviforme) weedeater damage |
| Improper Installation Trees that are planted improperly are slow to develop and always seem to be in a state of decline. Trees that are planted in the wrong locations to begin with will suffer from competition for light & root space. The top of the root ball should always be level with the ground. |
 Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) killed by planting too deep |
| Top Heavy Crown / Dense Canopy Trees that are excessively lifted never develop proper trunk diameters in relation to their canopies. Many are top heavy and off balance. During storms, dense upper canopies act as sails in the wind causing broken branches or for them to blow over. Trees must be selectively pruned inside out so the air will pass through them without destroying the crown or blowing them over. |
 Large Florida Strangler Fig (Ficus aurea) |
| What’s Wrong With My Oak? The four most common Oak trees in south Florida are:
All are susceptible to spiders, weevils, beetles, leaf damage, improper pruning and fungus. Phytophthora is a fungus that is found in all our soils. When the soil remains too wet for too long (usually from an over-watering sprinkler system) the organism can move into the trees vascular system and kill the tree very quickly. Browning leaves & bleeding from the trees trunk is a sign that the tree has been infected. Keeping soil moisture down is essential. |
 Phytophthora Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) bleeding bark  Phytophthora stain |
