Trees Dropping Leaves in Spring & Summer? Identifying Tree Health Issues in Greater Chicago

The trees on your commercial property are a valuable asset. For that reason, you want to stay on top of any potential problems.

Trees dropping leaves early can be a sign of trouble. Outside of the autumn season, it can be a red flag to see trees dropping a lot of leaves.

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• Is My Tree Sick If Leaves Fall Early?
• Why Are My Trees Dropping Their Leaves Early?
• Assessing When It's Too Early for Leaves to Fall
• Choosing Commercial Landscape Maintenance in Greater Chicago

In this article, we’ll dive into some of the reasons for early leaf drop and what you can do about it.

Is My Tree Sick If Leaves Fall Early?

A tree isn’t always sick when it is experiencing early leaf drop. But it is typically a red flag that something might be wrong (and tree disease is one possibility).

However, sometimes trees naturally shed their older leaves. A small amount of leaf drop could just be part of the normal tree growing and aging process.

This is why it’s essential to have a tree care professional monitor your tree. They can help you determine if it's a normal leaf drop or if there's a problem that requires attention.

Why Are My Trees Dropping Their Leaves Early?

Some of the common reasons for problematic early leaf drop include drought, overwatering, disease, and pests.

Sometimes, tree species aren't well-suited for their place in the landscape. However, if you already have large trees in place, maintaining their health is paramount, even in less-than-ideal circumstances.

Let’s talk about each of these potential causes and what they look like.

Drought

Drought conditions can commonly cause leaves to fall in summer. When trees do not receive enough water, the leaves can start to dry out, wilt, and fall off.  

If you’re seeing summer leaf drop, take a look at the soil around the tree. Is it dry and cracked? If it's that, that’s a good indicator that your tree may not be receiving sufficient water.

Overwatering

Surprisingly, too much water can also be a reason for early leaf drop. The signs of overwatering a tree can look very similar to drought stress (like yellowing leaves).

This can cause people to water even more. But if the soil becomes waterlogged, roots can drown. This can also lead to leaf drop in summer.

If overwatering is the culprit, the soil around the tree will be soggy. You might also notice moss, mushrooms, or other fungi growing.

Disease

Early leaf drop can also be the result of tree disease. Diseases like Anthracnose, Verticillium Wilt (pictured), Root Rot, and various types of Blight (to name just some) can negatively impact your trees’ health and cause foliage to wilt and die.

Trees with disease typically exhibit spots, curling, or other signs of trouble before they fall off.

There are curative treatments to address tree disease. Of course, with disease, a proactive approach is always best. Once a tree gets to the stage of leaf drop, it could already be in pretty bad shape.

A tree care professional should help evaluate your tree to determine the best course of action.

Pests

Pest problems can also lead to early leaf drop. Tree pests can cause damage in various ways, depending on what type of pest you’re dealing with.

While some feed on the foliage itself, others use their piercing sucking mouthparts to drink plant juices. Both can lead to foliage death.

There are also boring insects that might cause damage to your trees (and ultimately its foliage) by boring into the trunk. A pest problem is best addressed by a professional.

Assessing When It's Too Early for Leaves to Fall

Understanding why trees are experiencing early leaf drop is crucial to determining whether a problem needs to be addressed and treated. This is one of the key benefits of working with a professional commercial landscape maintenance service in the Greater Chicago area.

Since many of the symptoms of tree problems do mimic one another, it often takes an expert eye to determine exactly what’s going on. A professional tree inspection can help with a proper diagnosis.

Ideally, you want to get the proper treatment underway as soon as possible. A misdiagnosis or the wrong treatment approach could waste time or even exacerbate the problem.

Even better, a proactive approach that involves regular maintenance visits can mean that problems are identified early, before they cause severe damage.

Choosing Commercial Landscape Maintenance in Greater Chicago

Having a professional commercial provider on your side will be critical to preventing tree damage. Regular assessments of the trees on your commercial property will help ensure that problematic early leaf drop is addressed appropriately.

Leaf drop is ultimately only one potential symptom that your trees are experiencing a problem. It’s essential to work with a professional who knows what to look for and has the expertise to spot problems early on.

At KD Landscape, we maintain a constant eye on your property during our routine visits. This will give you peace of mind that issues will be identified and swiftly addressed.

There are multiple layers of professional oversight involved. This includes the crews’ and operation managers doing their weekly visits, as well as an account manager performing quarterly site visits. With a combination of team members keeping an eye on your trees, problems can be caught and treated early.

We know that premature leaf drop can be concerning. But with wise choices and a pro leading the way, you can prevent serious damage and protect the value of these beautiful assets.

Want to learn more about KD Landscape’s commercial landscape maintenance in Chicagoland? Get started today with an on-site consultation. We’ll review your options together so you can make a great choice.

Image Sources | Verticillium Wilt, Brown Leaves on Tree, Leaves on Sidewalk