10 Reasons Why Your Tree Leaves Are Turning Brown

You notice your tree fully green and lush and you’ve never been more proud of your taking care skills for your beloved tree. But wait! Is that a speck of brown on the leaves? Why are the leaves suddenly turning brown? What went wrong? Can you save it or should cut down by getting help from tree removal services. Here are the common reasons for tree leaves turning brown.

Burned By Ice

This is also known as frost damage. There are places where the weather is bitterly cold and snow is the norm. Well, trees can only handle so much drop in the temperature. This is why when spring rolls around, there are remnants of ice and frost still left on the tree, especially on the leaves. This can shock the leaves and they will turn brown in no time. This can happen often when spring comes around and you just experience a dead cold winter.

This is a temporary condition and after the tree gets warmed up by the sun, it will go back to being lush green again. But, sometimes, the temperature is just too much for the leaves to deal with, especially if they’re very young or are just sprouting. So, you want to make sure that you’re removing the ice and icicles from the leaves and letting it get warm. It’s literally like how human skin can get shocked with ice. The nutrient supply stops in leaves and that’s why they turn brown.

Too Much Sun

Even trees don’t need too much sun. If the weather is extremely sunny and hot where you are, then look at the leaves of your tree. You will notice this problem a lot. There will be browning and dryness on the leaves.

This is because the blazing hot sun is stripping the natural and entrapped moisture from the leaves and since there is no replenishment source, it’ll lead to excessive dryness and browning of the leaves. This is why you want to keep the water in check if your tree is constantly under the harmful rays of the sun.

Too Much Water

Too much of anything is a bad thing. That’s how the saying goes. You might think that watering your plants a lot will save the day, but it won’t and it will only make it look dry, brown, and dead. Overwatering the tree will lead to it looking brown and the first signs will be visible through the leaves. Trees most susceptible to overwatering are white pine, yew, and azalea trees. However, other trees like fig, cherry, almond, olive, willow, and birch trees can also get damaged.

So, keep a light hand on the water. Only water the tree when you think it needs it. If the soil is still pretty damp, then you can skip the sprinkling for the time being.

It’s The Critters

A lot of insects and pests can be responsible for making the tree leaves brown and lifeless. This is frustrating because insect attacks are really common when it comes to trees.

Caterpillars, beetles, flies of different kinds and even worms feast and thrive on leaves and in turn, they turn the leaves brown and dull. This is why it’s recommended to always keep an eye on the trees so that the infestation can be stopped in the preliminary stages. You don’t want insects to make the tree their home.

Fungal Diseases

A lot of the time, the tree can fall victim to fungal and bacterial diseases. You can see that white, powdery substance on the leaves and there might also be black and white and green spots all over the leaves. That is fungus and you want to get rid of it as soon as possible. If you let fungus thrive on the tree, then browning won’t be far away and that’s something that you want to keep a close eye on.

If your tree is in a very humid and moist place and there are a lot of trees in close vicinity with zero ventilation or air circulation, then fungal diseases won’t be far away, because this is the perfect environment for fungi to thrive.

Some fungi on trees can be dangerous and might even weaken the tree and cause death. The fungi can also spread to other trees. So, to avoid this, you should call in emergency tree services Kensington for tree removal.

Transplant Shock

There are lots of times when you remove a tree from one place and relocate it to another place. It may be the difference in the soil. It may be neglect or it just might be root damage, but it will lead to temporary browning of the leaves.

This does go away as soon as the tree holds onto the ground with new and stronger roots, but it is still something that might freak you out.

Over-Fertilization

Fertilizers – they’re good. They can help to make the tree lush, green, and thick. They keep the tree healthy. So, what’s wrong with a little bit more? Well, you don’t want to over-fertilize your tree, because it will lead to browning of the leaves.

See, you don’t want to use too many chemicals for the tree, because it will lead to shock and the tree will not be able to withstand the effects. Ultimately this will cause the leaves to turn brown and your seemingly good deed will turn into a disaster.

Compacted Soil

When you plant a tree, you can make the mistake of packing the soil in very tightly. You might think that you’re doing the tree a favor by keeping it nice and snug. But it’s the other way around.

If you pack the soil too tightly, the roots will have a hard time piercing through this wall of wet soil and clay and they won’t expand and reach the places from where they need their nutrient supply and this will lead to – you guessed it – brown leaves. This is why you want to keep the soil light, fluffed up, and tamp down on the urge to pack it completely.

Salt Damage

Some soils, especially in the desert and beachy sands, can have high salt content in them. So, when the tree roots suck the nutrients from salty soil, they’re also taking in a lot of salt with them. Salt mixed with water and that too in a lot of quantity can lead to salt damage or burns.

This can cause the tree leaves to turn brown or yellow. They will get dry and fall off and the tree will just look overall lifeless and dull, which is not what you want. So, checking the soil concentration is always a good thing.

Damaged Roots

Damaged roots can also lead to the trees looking brown and lifeless. Roots are the sole reason why the tree is thriving because the roots burrow deep into the soil and fetch the nutrients and even water for the tree to survive.

Well, if the roots are damaged, then you can kiss the health of your tree goodbye. If the roots are exposed on the ground and they’re very damaged, then this can also lead to the leaves turning brown. So, always check your roots.

Conclusion

Tree leaves turning brown can be a sign of anything. It can either be a disease that has latched onto the tree or it can be due to other reasons that are simple fixes. You should consult tree services Bethesda who can inspect the tree and let you know what’s causing this problem.