How Can The Top Of My Tree Be Dead, But Bottom Still Alive?

Disease in a tree can come in many forms, usually spreading from the ground up. There are a huge variety of causes of tree diseases, the symptoms of which differ just as vastly. You might see the roots of your tree starting to rot due to a fungal infection or harm done to the bark as a result of an insect invasion. Sometimes, you might see the top of the tree dead, but the bottom still alive. This is referred to as dieback.
 
If you observe signs of dieback in your trees, you’ll want to start an investigation to find out the reasons.

Soil Health
The health of the soil is a huge factor in the tree’s health. There are numerous ways you can see if your soil is healthy. The first thing you can do is check the soil itself. Dense, healthy soil will have plenty of organisms living inside of it. There will be insects, worms, and plant growth in any handful of soil you examine.

If you can’t find any signs of life, that’s a true indicator that your soil isn’t healthy. Reach out to Syracuse Tree Care to get a professional opinion.

Fungal Diseases
Fungal diseases are another possible reason for tree dieback. There are numerous types of fungal infections that can happen, threatening many species of tree. Elm yellow disease, beech bark disease, Dutch elm disease, and oak wilt are just a few examples of the diseases that can threaten trees.

Prevention is the most crucial measure you can take to keep your trees healthy. If you notice any section of the tree that is dead or decaying, you should remove it. Sometimes, you might have to get rid of a whole tree to stop the infection spreading to other trees in your landscape.

If Dieback Happens
If you’ve taken preventative measures and still notice dieback happening in your trees, you can use some other measures. You can trim dying or dead limbs. This treats the symptoms, but not the cause.  

You should also eliminate any overgrown root stock to enhance the health of the soil. It’s an excellent idea to plant a number of small plants and local shrubs as you can. These will attract spiders, wasps, and local birds that can serve as predators to disease-spreading insects.

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