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Healthy, Maintained Trees Resist Disease

People can go to the doctor when they’re sick, but trees have to fend for themselves. Fortunately, with occasional check-ups from a “tree doctor,” trees can keep up a robust defense system against attacks from diseases and insects.

A tree repeatedly exposed to diseases or insects typically weakens over time until an aggressive attack finally finishes it off. Routine tree maintenance will provide opportunities to help fend off the less serious conditions. Arborists also can aggressively treat potentially fatal cases so trees can rebound to fight full-strength against any future invaders.

Even a healthy tree can be exposed to potential sicknesses. Boring insects may attack the tree’s structure, or disease may cause premature defoliation or other symptoms that compromise the tree’s energy supplies. But the greater the well-being of the tree when disease or insects strike, the more likely it will have sufficient energy reserves to mount a winning defense.

Healthy trees can generate more sap to push out some types of invading insects, and their larger canopies can create greater energy stores to combat insect attacks and diseases. When a tree becomes unhealthy through repeated insect or disease exposure, it lacks the energy to protect itself from additional disease by isolating the damaged area. Like a ship struck by a torpedo, a tree must seal off damage to survive. A healthy tree can compartmentalize damage by reacting to quickly form internal walls sealing off the attack. An unhealthy tree may not be able to react fast enough to keep the damage from spreading.

An arborist can administer injections or applications to help a tree fight off a fungus that could otherwise provide an avenue of attack past the bark. Pruning of canker and other blights will reduce the risk of future infection attacking other limbs that would eventually cause more to die. And through routine maintenance of general tree health, trees will avoid stress that can result in the release of chemicals that actually attract some boring insects to attack.

How Davey Can Help

At Davey, we’re committed to doing whatever we can to protect your valuable trees and plants.

For more information, please contact us.

Research provided by The Davey Institute

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