08/23/2026
Trees are heavy lifters in the landscape - they provide shade, filter water, give wildlife food and a place to life and they increase home values. So they're worth investing in and taking care of! 🌳
Give trees a limb up
• Plant the right tree in the right place. Pick a tree that will thrive at a specific site, depending on sunlight, soil pH, root space, and how close it is to other structures. Trees take a long time to grow, so a planting problem may not be apparent for years.
• Maybe the problem isn't the pest. Pests and pathogens are often the symptoms of bigger problems. Trees with yellowing leaves, thinning branches, or splitting bark may be stressed and in a decline spiral.
• How can you diagnose a tree? Look at it from root to shoot.
- What's normal for that species? How old is it?
- Roots: Is a root flare visible above ground? Has there been construction nearby?
- Trunk and branches: Is there damage from mowers or animals? Are there cavities or splits?
- Foliage: Is it wilted or discolored? Dropping leaves early? Are there spots, holes, or bumps?
Explore more with the Everyday Environment team for a conversation about tree care with horticulture Educator Sarah Vogel at https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/everyday-environment.
