- A tree check tells you why the tree looks sick and if it's safe to keep near your house.
- Palms in our area face a few problems with no cure, like Ganoderma butt rot and lethal bronzing. Early answers save money.
- Many problems come from watering, mulch piled on the trunk, or root damage from construction.
- You get a straight answer and a plan: treat, trim, watch or remove.
Signs your tree needs a look
- Leaves or fronds turning brown, yellow or thin out of season
- Dead limbs in the top of the canopy
- Mushrooms or shelf fungus on the trunk or at the base
- Cracks, splits or cavities in the trunk
- A new lean, or soil lifting on one side
- Oozing sap, bark falling off or sawdust at the base
- The spear leaf on a palm turning brown or pulling out easily
What we look at
We check the whole tree, from roots to the top. We look at the root flare where the trunk meets the soil. We check the trunk for decay, cracks and fungus. We look at the canopy for dead wood and weak limbs. We also ask about recent changes: new construction, a new driveway, more or less watering, a recent storm.
Then we tell you what we found and what we'd do. Sometimes that's a trim. Sometimes it's a change in care. Sometimes the tree is a danger and should come down.
Common problems in Indian River County
Ganoderma butt rot
A fungus that rots the lower trunk of palms from the inside. The sign is a hard shelf-like conk on the trunk near the ground. There's no cure. An infected palm can fall without warning, so it should come out. Don't plant a new palm in the same spot.
Lethal bronzing
A disease that kills cabbage palms, date palms and some others. Tiny insects spread it. The first sign is often the oldest fronds turning bronze or reddish brown, then the spear leaf dies. There's no cure for an infected palm. Removing it fast helps protect nearby palms.
Laurel wilt
A beetle-spread fungus that kills redbay, swamp bay and avocado trees. Leaves turn brown and hang on the tree. Keep wood from infected trees on site or chip it. Moving it spreads the disease.
Root damage and bad mulching
Trenching, new pavers or a new driveway can cut major roots. Mulch piled against the trunk, sometimes called a mulch volcano, keeps bark wet and invites rot. These problems show up months or years later as dieback.
Who does the tree check
Our owner has more than 10 years in the tree industry and 20 years in landscaping, with deep working knowledge of arboriculture. That's a lot of trees seen up close, in this climate, through a lot of storms.
We aren't ISA Certified Arborists. If you need a formal written risk report, for a permit, an insurance claim or a legal matter, you'll need to hire a certified arborist for that document.
Common questions
Can you save a dying tree?
Sometimes. It depends on the cause and how far it has gone. Water stress, bad pruning and some pests can be fixed. Ganoderma butt rot and lethal bronzing can't.
Is my tree safe to keep near the house?
That's the main question we answer. We look for decay, cracks, weak unions and root problems, and tell you plainly.
Do you do tree or palm injections?
No. We don't do injections. If we think your tree needs one, we'll tell you so you can call a plant health company.
Should I send photos first?
Yes. Photos of the whole tree, the base and any problem spots help us know what to bring.