It’s finally springtime, and winter’s chill is gradually getting replaced with the vibrant green leaves that herald the coming of the warm months. But when trees become ill due to heart rot, the promise of spring loses its shine.

A type of fungus that affects trees, heart rot can cause both branches and tree trunks of even mature trees to decay and die, destroying the structure of a tree. When this happens, trees are more than just unattractive. They’re also a safety hazard to anyone who comes near them. In this blog post from Vital Tree Service in Woodbury, our tree trimming and pruning experts will talk about heart rot and how we can help you protect your lawn and family.

Identifying Heart Rot in Your Trees

One of the key problems with heart rot is that it can go unnoticed on a tree’s exterior while it grows inside a tree. Heart rot is actually a blanket term used to refer to many fungal infections that affect hardwood trees.

However, these fungi can actually affect many species of trees. Younger trees are better able to withstand infections, while mature and aging trees can have trouble fighting them off. These fungi eventually destroy the tree’s cellulose and healthy tissue, but because it can happen from the inside first, it can be overlooked until long after it causes a structural risk.

Signs your tree may have heart rot:

● Fungus in mushroom shapes called brackets
● Decomposition near a bark injury or cut
● Dried looking or damaged wood

Types of Heart Rot

There are three main kinds of fungi responsible for heart rot. The most serious of these is known as brown rot. Brown rot causes the wood to become dried up and completely decayed, whereas white rot is less serious. If your tree’s rot is moist, it is most likely a less damaging form of rot. On the other hand, dried rot and bacterial tree rot are causes for concern.

Your Woodbury Tree Trimming and Removal Experts
Heart rot is dangerous for more than just the tree. It also represents a serious safety risk to any people or animals who pass by. This is because the tree is no longer stable, and broken branches can occur.

It’s important to have a professional tree removal service remove any trees with heart rot. The Vital Tree Service team in Minnesota can remove infected trees safely. Connect with a member of our team by calling us at 651-341-4021 or contact us online to schedule your tree removal.