Why Inspecting Your Trees for Pests & Disease is a Must for Fall

The lush greenery of the summer has given way to cooler temperatures and a riot of colourful leaves. As leaves drop and we head toward the winter, it’s time to consider what you should do to prepare your trees for the bitter cold and set them up for success in the spring.

Instead of focusing on one thing, fall tree care comprises several vital services, like trimming, to ensure your trees stay healthy while dormant. One of the most helpful things you can do is make sure your trees aren’t harbouring any infections or insect invaders.

The Green Drop arborists put their heads together to explain why checking your trees for pests and disease in the fall is a good idea. Read on to learn more about these services and how they improve your property.

Why It’s Essential to Inspect Your Trees

Whether you choose to inspect your trees yourself or turn to a professional service, you should check your trees regularly to ensure no visible signs of disease or pest infestation. In the fall, this can be especially important, as overwintering your property and your trees with an untreated disease or infestation is more likely to result in the death of your trees.

Avoid Unnecessary Damage

Checking your trees early (and often) offers protection against many types of tree damage you could face if you don’t regularly inspect your trees. This is true for any season, not just the fall, so these inspections are a great way to catch any issues early so tree bark, branches, and roots don’t potentially face long-term damage.

Beyond pests or disease, regular inspections assure that loose or damaged tree limbs won’t fall and cause expensive damage to your property, lawn, or other trees.

Keep Safety Top of Mind

Loose branches and pest-infested trees aren’t just at risk of damage – they could also pose a safety risk to you, your family, or your pets. By committing to regular tree checks, you can mitigate some of the safety concerns associated with trees, whether because of damaged branches or the pests and diseases they may host.

These inspections go a long way to ensure you don’t have to consider pests that could impact your health or home. Instead, you can focus on keeping your trees healthy while enjoying your outdoor spaces.

Encourage Long-Term Health

Much like going to the doctor for a regular check-up, your trees will have longer, healthier lifespans if inspected seasonally. A professional inspection can note any issues early and develop a treatment plan to treat your trees specifically.

This kind of hands-on care doesn’t leave your tree's health to chance. It improves the longevity and vibrancy of your trees. Plus, a regular health inspection and preventative treatment will likely cost you significantly less than removing a tree ravaged by a pest infestation or fungal disease (like Dutch Elm Disease).

How Fall Inspections Help Your Trees

Fall lawn and tree care can easily fall to the wayside if you don’t actively stay on top of it. In the autumn, it’s good to schedule an inspection with an ISA-certified arborist because they can provide the most accurate and detailed information about the current condition of your trees and what treatments are needed.

An inspection acts as the first line of defence and a proactive measure to slow any seasonal issues, prevent pests, and slow the onset of diseases when trees are particularly susceptible.

Protects Against Winter Issues

Trees face stressors year-round, but as the fall progresses into winter, you don’t want those stressors to lead to trees being too weak to fend for themselves. An inspection will spot any weak spots in the bark or branches, note where pests or diseases could be present, and catalogue any other vulnerabilities.

Taking care of these issues in the fall is good because the tree can recover from some treatments once it goes dormant. Additionally, fall weather can be great for some treatments because it provides optimal conditions to absorb nutrients without the concern of frost.

Early Pest Prevention

Professional inspections are also essential because many diseases or pests aren’t as noticeable in the fall but, left to overwinter, can become serious problems once spring rolls around again. These inspections are best when performed by a professional with the training and experience to spot what you might not notice with a cursory glance.

As the populations of non-native pests grow, regular inspections are a great stopgap to these nuisances that are becoming more and more unavoidable. Your trees get the early treatment they need to continue to thrive, and you don’t have to worry about these pests impacting more of your plants or trees.

Circumvent Fall Disease Onset

With fall weather, you’re far more likely to encounter ideal conditions for disease to take hold and thrive. It’s cooler and wetter outside, so stressed or weakened trees may be more susceptible to root rot or powdery mildew. The oversaturation of the soil with water often means less oxygen is available to tree roots, so it’s essential to watch for any signs your tree may be struggling to ensure its safety.

Defend Your Trees with Professional Pest and Disease Inspections

No matter the season, defending your trees is a must. It becomes imperative in the fall when cooler temperatures and more moisture provide the ideal backdrop for many fall services while leaving struggling trees more vulnerable to disease or pest infestation.

You need professional arborists who know what to look for to catch and treat these invaders before the winter fully sets in. The Green Drop team is ready to help you identify any issues with a catalogue of pests. We also offer our state-of-the-art plant diagnostic lab in Winnipeg that can test for most diseases.

Contact our team for a free estimate on customized tree care for your yard today.