When you have a sick tree, it’s time to call a professional for help
Your sick tree needs prompt attention if you notice premature leaf drop, discolored or blistered foliage, or damaged bark with holes or peeling.
Expect to pay $100 to $600 for a professional tree inspection to diagnose your tree's illness, with average costs around $450.
Treatment for a sick tree depends on the diagnosis and can include pruning infected branches, applying fungicides, or introducing beneficial organisms to restore health.
Hiring a local tree maintenance professional provides expert diagnosis of disease, bacteria, and fungus issues, plus immediate treatment solutions to save your tree.
Like people, trees are susceptible to disease, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. You’ll need to know who to call for a sick tree if it demonstrates signs of illness, such as leaves falling prematurely, becoming discolored or blistering, or peeling or holed bark. While it may be evident that you need to call a doctor when you’re sick, you may wonder who to call for a sick tree.
When you see these symptoms, hire an arborist or a local tree maintenance pro so they can diagnose what’s wrong with your tree and recommend or administer the best course of action to treat the problem.
Tree maintenance professionals are experts in tree care who study and work with trees of all shapes and sizes, and they’ve dealt with trees that have a wide range of issues. If anyone can figure out what’s wrong with your tree, it will be a tree maintenance pro. They know the best solutions for their service area’s most common diseases, bacteria, and tree fungus types. Tree maintenance pros should also have access to the best fungicides and pesticides to correct these issues.
When trees are infected with a deadly, highly contagious pathogen, they can tell you how to kill a tree without spreading the disease further. Tree maintenance pros can also show you how to straighten a tree if it is growing crooked and when to stop watering new trees so they don’t suffer from root rot. Plus, not only can tree maintenance pros help to identify the tree’s issue, but they can immediately start working to implement the solution, thanks to having the skills, tools, and experience to do so.
Possibly—if you can correctly identify the problem and have the knowledge and products necessary to treat it. However, the sooner a tree maintenance pro can examine your tree, the sooner they can diagnose the problem and start to treat it. If your DIY efforts don’t work and you wait too long to call a professional, the tree may become so weakened by disease that you’ll need to remove it.
Going the DIY route could work if you immediately recognize common symptoms of a tree issue and implement the proper solution correctly. However, to avoid prolonging or furthering the problem, it’s best to hire a pro.
Hiring an arborist to evaluate and diagnose your tree is also a great option. While landscapers are knowledgeable about a wide variety of plants, only arborists specialize in trees. These pros are well-versed in many types of tree diseases and issues, helping you determine the exact cause of your tree’s sickness. Arborists can also recommend a treatment plan based on the tree’s problem, which is why it’s better to hire a specialist with the right tools and expertise. In contrast to tree maintenance pros, arborists may not have the tools and team size necessary to remove dead or sick trees if necessary.
The first thing a tree maintenance pro will do when they look at your sick tree will be to evaluate the situation, including the cause of the problem and your tree’s overall health. Using this information, they can determine the best course of action, which could include:
Pruning infected branches
Treating the soil with fungicide
Spraying the tree with insecticides
Introducing beneficial biological organisms
Addressing soil deficiencies with fertilizers
If you need professional help diagnosing a sick tree, you should schedule a tree inspection. A tree inspection costs $450 on average, but prices range from $100 to $600. The total cost of this tree service depends on the type of inspection, with basic check-ups costing the least and a full arborist report costing the most. You will also need to account for the number of trees being diagnosed, as well as their ease of accessibility for the tree professional.
One of my old tall evergreen trees was suddenly leaning toward the busy street in front of my house. I submitted a request for an emergency tree inspection, and Alejandro, owner of Cajete Tree Service, contacted me immediately and arrived to look at it just 20 minutes later. We agreed the...
Cajete Tree Service LLC1 tree was cut down and 5 others including a large willow tree were trimmed. The Grant Tree Service men were professional and cleaned up afterwards. The cost of the 6 trees were affordable. I am very happy with the results. I would hire them again.
Grants Tree ServicePromptly arrived for quoting! Demonstrated superb customer service, affordable pricing, and completed service swiftly! Looking forward to the spring for our service!
All Star Paving and SealingSeth was very professional, prompt in responding to queries about the work required , gave sincere advice as to what would be best for tree trimming and did the job timely.
Ace Fireplace Services' chimney sweep service is truly exceptional. They used advanced technology to ensure a thorough cleaning process, and my chimney has never looked better. I highly recommend their services.
Ace Fireplace ServicesBinion and Alex did such a good job. Fast, fair, efficient. Would def use them again. Best experience Iâ ve had in moving - someone should give them a raise. Will undoubtedly recommend this service.
All My Sons Moving & StorageI definitely recommend Ramonaâ s cleaning service! I have booked services with her many times and she arrives on time, ready to work and provides a great service.
Your Cleaning Solutions LLCWebb â s was priced well, flexible on scheduling, great with communication, and detailed in their work. Iâ ll definitely use their services again.
Webbs Pressure and Paint LLCGreat tree company, very professional and honest. Glad we found them, they had the best pricing
The service was great. Overall experience amazing. From initial call to completion, it was under 2 hours.
Precision Overhead Garage Door ServiceFrom average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
The upkeep and care for your trees should sometimes be left to a professional. Learn all the reasons why so you know when to call an arborist.
Your neighbor’s tree fell on your property, but who is responsible for fallen tree removal? It will depend on a few factors.
Are you unsure what to do or who to call if a tree falls on your house? Our guide covers all the essential steps.
Wondering who to call when a tree falls in the road? The answer varies for public and private roads—find out more with this guide.
If a tree falls in your yard, your first course of action is to determine the right type of professional to call to remove it. Read on to learn who to hire.
What do elm trees look like? Learn how to identify elm tree leaves, bark, and the different types of this picturesque tree with this informational guide.
