When you see a mature tree that’s losing leaves or has multiple dead limbs, you might ask yourself: Do trees die of old age? Although the answer is technically no, their vulnerability to diseases and pests increases as they age.
Learn more about the natural aging process in trees and how professionals offering tree services in Bartow, FL, can help maximize your tree’s lifespan.
Why Trees Don’t Age Like Animals
As an animal grows older, the cells in its body break down. Over time, they struggle to divide and repair themselves, causing signs of aging. Animals also stop growing physically after a certain age because of the way their cells function at maturity compared to when they were younger.
Cells in plants do not age as the plant grows older. Unlike plants that start growing in the spring and die off before winter, trees are perennial. They only go dormant in winter and start growing again in the spring.
Environmental factors cause the death of a tree’s cells instead of old age, per se. When certain areas of the tree or its roots die from lack of sunlight or water, other areas may grow faster to make up for the loss.
Why Older Trees Are at Greater Risk
A tree’s regeneration abilities don’t slow down because the tree’s cells age. Instead, the mature tree becomes more susceptible to disease, structural weakness, and insect damage. Eventually, the tree may not have the energy to keep up with the repairs it needs to make to stay healthy, causing it to die.
Environmental stress factors have a greater impact as the tree ages, too. If a drought strikes, an older tree that’s experiencing other physical issues might not be able to handle the lack of water like a younger tree would.
So, do trees die of old age? Not really, but understanding the age of the tree can help the arborist decide the best route of treatment. How do you measure a tree’s age? The trunk of the tree creates visible rings that represent new growth each year.
Arborists can take a core sample of the trunk and count the marks to determine the age of the tree. With this number in mind, they can recommend the proper treatments to give it a chance of resisting pests and disease.
Contact Central Florida Tree Care for Help If You Notice Signs That a Tree Is Dying
Don’t waste time looking at your trees and asking yourself: Do trees die of old age? Instead, request help from a local arborist when you see signs of a dead tree or other problems. The earlier you call for help, the better chance the arborist will have at success.
At Central Florida Tree Care, we can visit your home, assess the issue with the tree, and give you a cost estimate for saving or removing it. We always try to save mature trees, but some trees may be at risk of falling and need removal. For a free cost estimate, contact us today at (863) 670-7375.
