Tree Health Assessments in Akron, OH

Tree health assessments are for the tree that doesn't look right: leaves browning in July, a crown thinning from the top down, bark falling off in patches, mushrooms at the base, or a beech with strange dark stripes on its leaves. Northeast Ohio has had more than its share of new tree problems in the last 20 years, and several of them are in Akron yards now. A careful look at the tree, the soil around it and its surroundings usually narrows down what's going on and what the realistic options are, so you aren't paying to remove a tree that could be saved, or paying to treat one that's already gone.

Oak wilt

Oak wilt is a fungal disease that blocks the water-conducting vessels of oaks. Trees in the red oak group, such as northern red and pin oak, can die within a single season; leaves wilt and turn bronze from the top of the crown down, often in early summer. The City of Akron warned residents about oak wilt in 2017 after losses on the city's north and west sides. The fungus spreads through connected roots between nearby oaks and on beetles drawn to fresh wounds, which is why routine oak pruning belongs in late fall and winter.

Beech leaf disease

Beech leaf disease was first discovered in Lake County, Ohio, in 2012, and is caused by a microscopic nematode living in the leaves and buds. Ohio State University Extension lists the signs: dark bands between the leaf veins, best seen from below in spring; leaves that are crinkled, thick and leathery; aborted buds; and a canopy that thins over time. Symptoms have been documented in 25 Ohio counties, and trees of all ages have died within two to seven years. American and European beech are both affected, which matters in older Akron neighborhoods and wooded suburban lots where big beech are common.

Emerald ash borer and ash trees

Emerald ash borer was first identified in Ohio in 2003, and most untreated ash in Summit County have since died. Any ash that is still alive here has either been treated or has been lucky. Signs of attack include thinning at the top of the crown, woodpeckers flaking off the outer bark, D-shaped exit holes and S-shaped galleries under loose bark. Insecticide treatment can protect a healthy ash; once much of the crown is gone, removal is usually the better choice.

Spotted lanternfly

Ohio State University Extension in Summit County reports that spotted lanternflies have been seen in the county. The insect feeds on many plants but prefers tree-of-heaven, an invasive tree that's common along fences, alleys and vacant lots. If you see adults or their gray, mud-like egg masses, the Summit County Extension office (330-928-4769) can tell you how to report them.

Decay and structural risk

Not every problem is a pest. Cavities, fungal conks on the trunk or roots, cracks, a girdling root strangling the base, soil piled against the trunk, or construction damage to roots can all weaken a tree. An assessment looks at those and at the target: what the tree would hit if it, or a limb, failed. A tree with some decay out in the back of a wooded lot is a very different case from the same tree over a child's bedroom.