Some trees die after a few decades, while others live to be several thousand years old. Do trees die of old age most of the time? Surprisingly, science speculates that trees don’t die of “old age,” but instead of the various environmental factors that bring these fascinating living things down.
Brandenberger Tree Care provides professional tree services in Warsaw, Indiana. Keep reading to learn why trees die and what to expect.
Do Trees Die of Old Age?
Isn’t it amazing to think that trees can’t die of old age because their cells don’t age? A tree of a few thousand years has cells as young and spry as Day One! Still, this – let’s call it cell-level immortality – doesn’t mean the tree is without genetic limits.
As your tree takes on drought, pests, and diseases over time, its ability to recover quickly may slow down due to its growth decline. That’s intuitive since it’s easier for a young tree with a four-inch diameter to recover from a severed limb than it would be for an ancient tree with a six-foot diameter to heal.
How Trees Die
So, how do trees die if it’s not from getting too old? Usually, you can blame environmental hardships, such as:
- Environmental stress: Drought, excessive heat or cold, and even too little or too much watering can kill your tree.
- Nutrient depletion: Trees soak up nutrients as they grow. If they take in nutrients faster than they replenish them, they may die from soil nutrient deficiencies later.
- Tree diseases: Disease susceptibility can kill trees quickly, especially with open wounds from broken limbs or trunk damage.
- Structural weakness: A heavy canopy, small root system, or leaning over too far can cause the tree’s health to decline.
- Competition: Do nearby plants take up too many nutrients, water, or sunshine? A tree will die if it can’t readily access what it needs.
You’ll see these factors in a natural setting like a forest, but they’re more common in the urban jungle where people intentionally plant trees. Homeowners and business owners need to be careful with how they care for their trees if they want their investment to span millennia.
How To Keep Your Trees Alive
You can help your tree live a long life if you:
- Water and fertilize your trees appropriately.
- Protect your tree from damage.
- Consult an arborist periodically for maintenance.
- Handle pests, diseases, and damage promptly.
Trees may be more susceptible to problems if they’re not native to the area (like citrus planted where there are very cold winters). Protect your tree as well as you can to let those limitless tree cells keep doing their thing (forever?).
Call Brandenberger Tree Care in Warsaw, IN, for Tree Solutions
Do trees die of old age? Why not ensure your trees are in good hands with experts like Brandenberger Tree Care in Warsaw, Indiana? The team can maintain your trees’ water and nutrients, keep up with removing dead tree branches, and more.
Reach out to Brandenberger Tree Care today at (260) 308-5593 for a free estimate.
