| If you see: | Potential cause: | You should: |
|---|---|---|
| TRUNK | ||
| A flat-sided trunk at the base of the tree | Encircling root restriciting the flow of water and nutrients between the roots and rest of the tree | Excavate to check for encircling root |
| Bark damage near the bottom of the tree | Rodent or string trimmer | Apply mulch/trunk guard to protect from further damage |
| An elm tree with liquid oozing from the trunk | Slime flux or wetwood | Not worry about health |
| BRANCHES | ||
| An elm tree with bright yellow leaves on one or two branches | Dutch elm disease | Immediately call the university* or an arborist |
| Webs in the branches or webs covering the tips of branches | Fall webworm or Eastern tent caterpillar | Not worry about health |
| Many branch tips snipped off and laying on the ground | Squirrel damage | Not worry about health |
| Black clumps on branches of a cherry tree | Black knot | Call for advice* |
| Very little growth | Many | Call for advice* |
| Hole in trunk or branches | Many | Call for advice* |
| LEAVES | ||
| Leaves sticky and covered with a black velvety coating (like soot) | Piercing, sucking insect and sooty mold | Hose down leaves to get rid of sap |
| Leaves wilted | Many | Call for advice* |
| Spots on leaves | Many | Call for advice* |
| Small leaves | Many | Call for advice* |
| Sparse leaves | Many | Call for advice* |
| Yellow or brown leaves | Many | Call for advice* |
| Holes in leaves | Insect feeding | Not worry about health |
| Bumps on leaves | Many | Not worry about health |
|
1Adapted from Tree Owner’s Manual for the Northeastern and Midwestern United States, USDA, 2008). *Call an arborist or other qualified professional |
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Download an Excel workbook containing tree assessment tables found in the stormwater manual.