MY TREE HAS EMPTY SPOTS WITH NO LEAVES. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

If you’ve ever looked up at the branches on your tree and thought, “that’s not right,” you may have experienced tree canopy thinning.

While trees do lose their leaves in winter, they should start filling up once warmer temperatures arrive. If your tree has empty spots with no leaves, it can be a sign that the plant is in trouble. Some tree health situations are worse than others, so depending on your situation, there might be hope for your tree yet.

There are a few potential reasons why trees might have leafless spots. Let’s dive into the most common.

What does it mean if my tree is missing leaves?

An insect infestation could be responsible for your tree’s leafless appearance, or it might be responding to an unexpected weather change. There could also be invisible soil issues. Sense a theme here? This problem can be difficult to diagnose because all trees are different, and several outside factors can lead to an empty canopy.

A tree without leaves in the spring indicates that it’s experiencing some degree of distress. Before you assume it’s dead or too late to save, it’s best to do some research and contact a tree expert to help you.

To understand the tree’s root issue, you’ll want to check it out for other telling symptoms in addition to the missing leaves. 

Three Causes of Tree Leaf Thinning

If your tree has leafless spots, it could be because of:

• Borer insects: These discreet beetles or caterpillars gnaw through tree bark. They cause areas with tiny holes to crop up all over the trunk. These voracious bugs weaken the tree as they eat, causing some leafless spots in the tree’s canopy.
• Weather-related stress: Exceptionally cold weather can damage some tree areas more than others. Spots with missing leaves could be empty because they’re struggling to recover from winter weather or unexpected cold snaps.
• Cramped soil: Compacted soil that’s packed too tightly can hinder tree growth in certain areas.

More on bud issues

You can also attribute a tree with no leaves to bud issues. If the tree has some leaves, start your investigation of buds that never progressed in their growth. If you cut into the bud and it’s brown, that means it’s been dead for quite some time. If the bud is brown on the inside, but you still see green on the outside, it’s probably suffering from cold damage. 

You can also check to see if the branches are still alive. If several buds are dead, but the branch is alive, the damage to the tree has been going on for a while. It could be caused by stress or a root problem. 

If there are no buds, you can probably start to assume the tree is diseased. Verticillium wilt, caused by a fungus, is common in maples. You can diagnose it if you see streaked wood. Unfortunately, this issue isn’t controllable. 

Lastly, some trees, such as fruit trees, might fail to leaf out because they didn’t properly chill during the winter.

What is the scratch test?

You can do a scratch test to determine whether your tree is dead or dormant. You’ll scratch your tree’s back with your nails or a knife. If you’re scratching and you see a green covering with moist pulp, the tree is dormant even if no leaves are present. However, if you only see brown, dry wood, then the tree is likely dying or already dead.

What if half the tree has no leaves?

If half of the tree has no leaves, it’s a sign the tree is under serious stress or dying, especially if the problem appears to be progressing.

If the tree is experiencing a pest infestation, losing half the leaves can indicate how far it has progressed. A disease slowly spreading and killing the tree could also be the cause. In some instances, physical trauma like an injury to a tree’s roots during construction or landscaping can cause half of the tree to lose its leaves.

Seeing half the tree empty typically means whatever problem it’s experiencing is getting worse. However, there may still be hope to save the tree from the damage or disease that’s affecting it. You may need to give the tree special treatments or medicines. In some cases, pruning the affected parts could also be necessary to save your tree.

When is a tree considered dead?

You can consider your tree dead when it can no longer take in moisture and nutrients. In this state, your tree won’t be able to make food or support the essential processes that keep it alive.

Common indications of a dead or dying tree include missing bark, fungal growth on a tree’s trunk, brown, dry limbs that fall off, the trunk is leaning to one side, and, of course, the above-mentioned lack of foliage. Because these can also be signs that a tree is dormant, it’s important to perform the scratch test.

How to Address Tree Canopy Thinning

Healthy trees won’t show as many bare spots. While growth is always fluid and can change throughout the year, when your tree is healthy, any missing leaves will be kept to a minimum. Adequate care such as watering during dry periods and providing tree beds with a 2-to-4-inch layer of mulch will be extremely beneficial.

However, it’s just as crucial to determine why your specific tree has such issues. If you have an idea of what it might be, such as insect infestation, it’ll be difficult to truly know what is wrong with your tree and arrive at the best solution without professional guidance.

That’s where an arborist will be able to help you. Arborists assist you with pinpointing tree concerns by looking over your tree and suggesting a specific solution based on the unique problems with the tree.

If you need assistance with your tree health, be sure to reach out to [company name] over the phone or through email. We’ll be glad to help