Can Root Rot Be Reversed?
Usually in tree health care, the presence of any type of fungus isn’t a great sign and usually means the tree is and has been well on its way to decline for some time now.
The main causes for root rot are poor drainage and overwatering. For homeowners that use sprinklers for their gardens, a lot of times the tree is heavily overwatered resulting in root rot at the base.
In suburban areas, soil compaction is very common from heavy traffic and poor planting.
When the soil is too compacted, it is not able to drain properly or pull oxygen for the roots, resulting in over saturation. This creates an environment where fungus thrive such as Rhizoctonia, Pythium, Phytophthora, and Armillaria.
So how do I know if my tree has root rot?
A few indicators your tree might have root rot are:
Poor growth
Wilted or yellow/brown leaves
Fungus such as mushrooms at the base
Open cavities on the trunk
Decay on the branches or other parts of the tree
Missing bark
How is root rot treated?
Once wood decay has begun, it is very hard, if not impossible to treat and there are only a couple of options.
Have a certified arborist come up with a treatment plan of watering, pruning and fertilization in hopes that some TLC will help it regenerate itself
If the tree isn't in a dangerous area, near a house or other belongings, just give it some time to see if it can heal itself without additional help
Remove the tree if your arborist feels it is unsafe to keep in its current condition
If you are concerned about root rot on your trees, or have other tree health care related questions, please feel free to reach out to our office using the link provided below!
