One day, while heading outside to inspect your garden, you spot something alarming: holes in one of your trees. You wonder whether they’re dangerous and if your tree will survive.
Fortunately, most holes in trees are no big deal, and the tree can heal from minor damage without help. But if the holes are large, you might need advice from an expert.
Below, learn what causes holes in trees, then call us for tree services in Norwich, CT.
What Causes Holes in Trees?
To determine whether your tree needs professional attention, it’s helpful to know what’s causing those holes in your tree. Here’s a list of the most common culprits.
- Wood-boring insects: Wood-boring insects, such as beetles, termites, wood wasps, and carpenter ants, can decimate your tree from the inside out. Wood-boring beetles, such as the longhorn beetle and bark beetle, are especially dangerous. They chew holes in trees to reach the tender growth within.
- Woodpeckers and sapsuckers: These wood-loving birds belong to the same family and look so similar that it’s hard to tell them apart. They drill holes into tree trunks looking for bugs to eat. If you see a line of evenly spaced little holes along the tree trunk, blame these feathered nuisances.
- Other wildlife: Squirrels and other rodents enjoy gnawing on tree bark to sharpen their teeth. If you’re in an area with deer, they like to rub their antlers on tree trunks to mark their territories.
- Fungal infections: Fungus is a problem because it can rot your tree from within, causing gaping tree cavities that grow bigger with time. Fungi commonly infect trees through pruning wounds and holes made by pests.
- Environmental factors: Storms and heavy winds can sometimes cause holes in trees. If the hole isn’t severe, the tree should recover.
- Aging: Just like humans, trees become frail with age. The heartwood, which is the very center of the tree’s trunk, begins to decay, which can cause holes to develop in the trunk.
Do You Need To Repair Holes in Your Trees?
Do holes in trees need professional attention? It depends. If your tree is generally healthy and the wound is fairly small, the tree will usually heal by itself.
If insects or disease caused the holes in your trees, however, you might need the help of an arborist. Pests and diseases usually don’t go away on their own, and the longer you wait, the worse the holes can get. You’ll need to treat the problem at its source before the tree can recover.
If you must fill a hole, use urethane expandable foam. Avoid cement, which isn’t flexible enough to move with the tree as it grows.
Not sure what to do? It’s best to schedule a tree health assessment to test the structural integrity of your tree.
Discovered Holes in Your Trees? Call Our Expert Arborists
If you’re losing sleep over holes in trees, stop worrying and call our arborists at Lamb’s Tree & Plant Health Care. We’re pros at recognizing sick tree symptoms and will recommend the best course of action for your tree. Call (860) 266-0494 to schedule service today. Stable Trader
