How Do Arborists Diagnose Trees?
Arborists are high-level, tree care professionals. They do more than just trim trees. They understand how trees grow and develop, and they understand how to care for trees. One service that arborists generally provide is tree diagnosis. Just like a doctor examines their patient and figures out what's wrong, an arborist examines a tree and determines what's wrong. But what factors do arborists consider when making a diagnosis? Here are the key ones.
1. Visual Assessment
The first thing an arborist will do during the appointment is visually assess the tree. They'll look at the leaves, examining them for spots. Different types of spots can indicate different diseases. The spots may all look the same to the average person, but an arborist can tell the difference between them. The arborist will also examine the trunk and main branches for any cankers, which are basically wounds in the bark. They'll look for the presence of insects, fungal growths, and any other abnormalities, too. This is often the most time-consuming part of the diagnostic process, and sometimes, it's all that arborists need to do. They might spot one obvious symptom that tells them exactly what's wrong. For example, if they see tent caterpillars on a tree, then they know the issue is a tent caterpillar infestation.
2. Fungal Sampling
If the arborist sees signs of a fungal infection, such as spots on the leaves or brackets growing from the trunk, they may need to do some more testing to see what species of fungi is infecting the tree. To do this, they will take scrapings of the fungi. They'll then take those samples to a lab or their office and look at them under a microscope. Once they know exactly what kind of fungi they are dealing with, they will have a better idea of how to treat the issue.
3. Core Sampling
Some diseases affect the interior of the wood without causing so many obvious, outward symptoms. If your arborist suspects your tree may have one of these conditions, then they may do what's known as core sampling. They'll bore out a very thin slip of wood from the tree's trunk, and then they'll examine that core for the presence of fungal spores, damaged wood, and other symptoms.
These are the key factors arborists consider when diagnosing trees. If your tree isn't doing well, then contact an arborist; they'll figure out what's wrong.