Leaves are a good, clear indicator of tree health. They should be the expected color during any given season. For example, in the summer, the leaves of most trees should be green, unless it’s a tree that typically has leaves of another color during summer. The leaves should also be the correct shape. They should not be irregularly shaped, stunted or damaged. Leaves of an off-color or odd shape can be indicators of malnourishment, insect damage, over or underwatering, or diseases.

The next place to look when checking up on your tree is its bark. With some exceptions, the tree’s bark should be intact. It should not be peeling or falling off the trunk. Also, the trunk should also have no large cracks or holes. One way to test the health of the bark is to scratch it with your fingernail. If the tree is green underneath the bark, then that means it is healthy. The branches should also bend easily; they should not snap and break.

On evergreen trees, there should not be bare patches, as this indicates that nutrients are not reaching the branches or damage caused by pesticides or improper pruning. Wilting leaves and stems on trees and plants alike can indicate stress, problems with water and or sunlight, whether too much or too little. Diseases can also cause this.

While a difficult metric to see, yearly tree growth is a major sign of a healthy tree. This is measured by looking at the distance between this year’s tree bud’s and the scar of last year’s buds. Each species will have varying rates of growth.

Some signs that your tree may not be healthy are a lack of fruit or flowers, or leaking sap. The tree should also have only one leader, or one dominant trunk.

Not only can a Hunting Valley tree service company such as VanCuren help you determine the health of your trees, they can also help you keep your trees healthy and thriving.

Do your best to avoid the peak heat hours by mowing in the early morning or early evening. When you do mow, move your mower setting to at least 3 inches. As nice as short grass looks, a couple more inches will help your grass handle the heat better. Another way to go about it is to only mow a third of the total height of your lawn.

Watering is another given to keeping your grass nice and green. Only water your grass when it needs it. If possible, make a point to water your grass in the early morning. This way, the soil will have time throughout the course of the day to drink up the water before the hot temperatures evaporate it away. Avoid watering in the evening — this could turn your brown spot situation into a fungal disease! To check if your grass needs watering, walk around a patch of grass and if it keeps its imprinted, matted form then it is time to water. Alternatively, your grass will also need water when the color changes from bright green to a gray-blue color.

Most grassy green lawns in the Cleveland area will have cool season grass. Just to be sure, double check the grass around your home to see if it is cool season or warm season grass. For the best results, you should fertilize depending on which type of grass is growing in your lawn. If you have cool season grass, do not fertilize in the summer as it will set off too much growth for your grass to stay green. Or if you have warm season grass growing around your home, fertilize in the summer so that it can help keep your grass green during its peak season of growth.

Still unsure what the best course of action is for those dry, brown grass spots in your yard? Give VanCuren Tree Services a call to answer any of your questions. Our team is experienced and knowledgeable about landscaping in Cleveland. We also offer other services such as tree trimming and tree removal as well. Call us today for a free estimate.

Holes in your tree become dangerous when it compromises the structural soundness of the tree. If a tree’s structure fails, you might find branches falling off or that the whole tree has fallen over. Have your trees looked at before this happens and damage is done to your property. Thankfully though, a hole in the trunk of a tree is not usually an issue.

When you hear a woodpecker pecking on one of your trees, you may also be initially worried that there is a dead tree on your property. There are certain types of woodpeckers that, if present, could indicate a sign that your tree is diseased or dead. The Pileated woodpecker, known for its bright red triangular head-crest, tends to feed on bugs of diseased trees and create their homes by creating holes in dead trees. If you see one of these woodpeckers on your tree, do not try to get rid of it. Instead, you should look into getting your tree removed, especially if it poses a threat to your home or property. Other woodpeckers may not be an issue, but eventually could lead to structural problems.

A non-threatening hole can be covered or filled for aesthetic reasons if you choose, but call a professional team to take care of this. Concrete is not a good fix for filling a hole as it does not allow flexibility as the tree bends and sways. There are special foams that can be used to fill in tree holes that will not further damage the tree.

It is common for trees to have holes, but it is most probably the size of the hole or the amount of holes that will determine if your tree has issues that need to be addressed. There can be several reasons that a tree starts showing holes. Make sure to call your local Cleveland Heights tree service at VanCuren for advice and recommendations. Also keep us in mind for any tree projects you are looking into like tree or stump removal and tree trimming.