The tree care experts at Any Town Tree in Naples share information with tree owners about evergreen health.
Understanding Your Tree Discoloration Issues
South Florida is blessed with a very diverse group of flora. Due to the location near the tropics, the Naples area is home to some of the widest arrays of trees and shrubs that can be found. With tall palms, big shade trees and evergreens, there are endless opportunities for Floridians to landscape with.
For home and business owners, keeping landscaping healthy is a primary goal. In the Naples area, many people have chosen to include some sort of evergreen tree or shrub to keep the area beautiful through the cooler and drier months when other trees go dormant. Evergreens have a reputation for being hardy but they can be subject to problems just like any other tree. Here is a guide to help evergreen owners understand what causes evergreens to go brown.
How Are Evergreens Different?
Evergreen trees are remarkably different from palms and deciduous trees. The thing that sets them apart the most is the presence of needles instead of leaves. The needles are similar to leaves in that they are the site of photosynthesis where the tree makes its food from sunlight. Evergreen trees adapted by putting out needles because it helps them continue photosynthesis during periods of dry and cold as well as preserve moisture that could be lost through transpiration. This allows them to continue growing even when conditions aren’t ideal.
Deciduous trees, on the other hand, have large leaves that are suited to making large amounts of food for the tree during the longer days of summer. When moisture, sunlight and weather begins to change nearing the winter months, deciduous trees will drop their leaves and go dormant to preserve energy until the environment is favorable again for growth.
What Effect Does Weather Have on Evergreens?
Water preservation is the name of the game for evergreens. South Florida heat can have a tendency to dry out the areas around evergreen trees. Luckily, evergreens are adapted to make it through dry spells by slowing water loss through their needles. However, there are periods when the weather will become too dry for too long. This can harm evergreens and cause the tips of their limbs to brown.
Another cause of browning can be fungus from having too much water. When roots of an evergreen are allowed to soak for too long in soil that can’t breathe, fungus can grow along the roots. The symptom of this will be very similar to the browning from dry periods because both conditions inhibit nutrient uptake by the tree’s roots.
How to Care for an Evergreen That is Browning
Enlisting the help of an arborist is the way to help an evergreen that is turning brown. A local arborist will be aware of climatic conditions that could be contributing to evergreen browning. Once they come out and make an assessment they have several methods they can use to stop the browning.
First, if the cause is from lack of moisture, they will recommend watering and mulching along with fertilization to stop the damage. If the cause is from excess moisture, they will recommend digging up shallow roots and allowing them to dry. This will kill the fungus and will allow the tree to resume normal biological function.
In both cases, trimming and pruning off the brown spots will be recommended.
About Any Town Tree
Any Town Tree is the Naples choice for professional tree service. From tree health care to tree removal, our highly trained teams and state-of-the-art equipment are ready to help. Call (239) 580-8733 today to schedule a prompt visit from our arborists.