Why Do Trees Die? Here Are 9 Common Causes
From bugs to droughts, here’s what can take down a tree
Highlights
Diseases like Armillaria root rot can weaken and kill trees.
Trees often die from natural disasters like heat waves, droughts, floods, and fires.
Human error, including soil compaction and pesticide runoff, also destroys trees.
Why do trees die? Trees can seem indestructible, especially once they’ve grown thick trunks to weather the elements. But while trees are naturally hardy, they can be taken down by threats like diseases, pests, and natural disasters—even if it takes years for them to die. Our guide breaks down nine common causes of tree death that homeowners should be on the lookout for.
Disease
Some tree diseases affect certain species, like Dutch elm disease and Chestnut blight. Others, such as Armillaria root rot and anthracnose (a group of fungi that destroy leaves), are notorious for killing many types of trees. These diseases have one important thing in common: They attack a vital part of the tree that’s necessary for survival. As a result, the tree can no longer manufacture and carry nutrients and water through its fibers. No matter how resilient the tree is, that usually spells a slow but sure death sentence.
Even if the disease doesn’t kill the tree, it may weaken it so it’s more susceptible to the other scourges discussed below.
If a disease is caught early enough, you may be able to save the tree. A local tree maintenance professional will be able to diagnose the problem and determine if it can be treated.
Underwatering or Overwatering
Some trees, such as birch, cypress, and willows, need lots of water. But even an established, drought-resistant tree like a bur oak will eventually start to suffer after a prolonged dry period.
Most trees don’t like to be waterlogged, either. Excessive moisture impedes their nutrition system, kills off leaves or needles, and can eventually destroy their roots.
Pests and Critters
The powerful defenses of trees make it difficult for pests to do too much damage. But there are a few exceptions, including:
Large swarms of insects like locusts or certain species of caterpillars like gypsy moths can devour most of a tree’s leaves (this is known as defoliation), which halts the tree’s growth. Trees have to spend significant resources to survive; weaker trees will often die within a couple years.
Bugs like pine beetles can burrow into a tree’s bark in large numbers. Trees with damaged bark can eventually die, especially if a fungus finds its way inside. Pine beetle larvae can also damage tree roots, compounding the problem.
Insects like emerald ash borers and Asian long-horned beetles eat into bark to lay eggs, and their larvae actively eat softwood and sapwood. This hinders a tree’s ability to transport moisture and nutrients, eventually leading to its death.
Bugs like spider mites actively suck out nutrients in trees like junipers, spruces, and hemlocks, and they sometimes inject toxins in the process. In large numbers, spider mites weaken trees enough for them to succumb to environmental problems or disease.
Certain insect species do little damage on their own but carry fungus spores on their bodies as they enter trees. That’s how oak wilt often spreads to trees.
In addition, animals like deer will chew off tender stems and shoots. This can weaken and destroy young saplings before they have a chance to develop tougher protections.
Competition Over Resources
Competition is very real in the world of trees. Saplings often die because they’re growing too close to the canopy of another tree and can’t get enough sunlight. Nearby trees can also take up water and nutrients that saplings need to survive.
Soil Compaction
Soil compaction occurs when trees are planted on a property and backfilled improperly, or when well-meaning homeowners landscape around trees, add new soil, and then compact it. This can crush important roots near the surface. Compacting the soil also pushes out air, essentially suffocating the soil and nearby roots.
Extreme Temperatures
Heat waves and deep freezes pose dangers to trees that aren’t prepared to deal with them. High temperatures can quickly dry out trees and scorch leaves. This is especially true if an area experiences an unusual heat wave that trees haven’t experienced before.
While some trees develop protection against freezing weather, extremely cold temperatures can be deadly. Sub-zero temperatures can freeze the sap in some trees and cause cracking.
Fires
Fires are a broad natural disaster, but they have special implications for trees. Trees are often flammable, from their leaves to their sap, so they may catch fire more easily than surrounding materials—especially if they’ve been hit by a drought first. While some trees develop thick bark to survive milder grass fires, a fire is still a traumatic event for any tree and often leads to death.
Pollution
High levels of air pollution can slowly poison trees via their carbon dioxide exchange system, inhibiting growth and shortening their lifespan. Another type of pollution called phytotoxicity occurs when trees are poisoned from the runoff of industrial fertilizers, pesticides, or chemicals—or even well-meaning fertilization by homeowners. This destroys leaves and needles and may eventually kill the tree. In addition, floods and other natural disasters can expose trees to salt water or polluted water that can quickly kill them.
Old Age
Trees live a long time—along with fungal networks, they’re the oldest living thing on the planet. Most trees live for 100 to 400 years, and certain species in certain spots can live for thousands of years. But their lives do eventually come to an end.
As trees age over many years, their deadwood builds up, and flaws can open up in their bark. Think of how humans start to wrinkle and lose bone density, except it usually takes trees longer. As trees weaken, they become more vulnerable to pests and diseases, and decay eventually overcomes them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Early signs that a tree is struggling include premature leaf shedding and lesions or other strange markings. Peeling bark, dead or rotten branches on the ground, and a conspicuous lack of leaves can all be signs that a tree has started to die. By the time a tree starts leaning, it’s usually too far gone to save.
Yes, dead trees are dangerous for several reasons. For one, they pose a falling hazard. Dead, rotting trees can also attract harmful pests. And if the tree died because of a disease, it could spread the disease to healthy trees.
If a disease has attacked and destroyed the roots, then the tree may fall over as soon as it has died or while part of it is still alive. Trees that die with their roots left in place tend to stay standing for much longer, but those roots will decay eventually, allowing gravity to do the rest.
That depends on the cause and how far along it is. For example, if a tree is dying because of drought issues, providing more water and adding fertilizer to the soil can often save it. If it is dying because of disease, treating the disease and removing affected parts may help. But dead parts of a tree generally can’t come back to life, so it’s important to catch the problem early.