As your trees begin budding and leafing out this season, don’t miss the opportunity to gather some key information about your tree’s health and vigor which may allow you to catch any pest and disease issues early. This can be the difference between saving or losing a key tree on your property!

Ask yourself:

1. Is this tree doing what other trees of the same species are doing on my property/in my neighborhood?
   Late leaf out (or early leaf drop in the Fall) can be an indicator of a stressed tree!
2. Do these buds/leaves seem to have normal color and density throughout the canopy?
   If not, your tree may not be getting access to the nutrients it needs to thrive, which can be due to a wide variety of factors such as poor soil structure (like compaction), root damage, etc.
3. How does this compare to last year?
   Tracking changes in your trees over multiple growing seasons is the best way to understand and care for your trees!

If you’re not sure how to answer these questions, or if you notice anything abnormal, call an arborist!