Love the beautiful look of shady trees?  Healthy trees, ones that grow with unique gorgeous green leaves, and intriguing trunks are something everyone enjoys, whether it be in a park, your backyard, or a deep forest.  But what if your favorite tree is no longer healthy? Here are some signs that your tree is rotting, and what to do in order to prevent this problem from occurring.

Signs That the Tree is Rotting:

• If there is a severe problem of branches breaking or the highest branches do not appear to be expanding,this may indicate that the tree is no longer healthy; this is a result of root loss, which could be  a result from internal rotting. 
• If the leaves of the tree turn yellow, a result from chlorosis, or the tips of the leaves are brown,  this is an indication that the trees roots are too deep,not allowing the tree to thrive.
• Observe the surroundings: Is there massive construction near the tree, damaging the roots?-Is there moss or ferns growing on the tree?  Many insects and bacteria can replace the healthy bark into a wet, soft texture. Within this environment, moss and ferns grow.
•  Using a small drill bit set on a regular drill: Observing the small hole is tell-tale if the tree is becoming hollow and unhealthy from the   inside.
•  Using a rubber mallet:  Hit the tree to see if it sounds hollow.   A hollow sound is an indication that the tree may be internally rotting.

Note: If you use mulch, do not use an excessive amount.  This will prevent the tree from absorbing moisture.

Inspecting the Tree for Bugs:

You will need a trowel, a pair of plastic/disposable gloves, and a magnifying lens.-Put on your plastic gloves and begin to inspect the bark, using the  the trowel to remove any miscellenious debree from the trees surface.

NOTE: Rotten wood will have the appearance of brown dust. -With the magnifying glass:  Observe carefully for the cause of the rotting wood.  You may see fungi, or insects, such as termites, bark beetles, centipedes or termites. These causes are all a result and reason for an unhealthy tree.

Other Causes:

Root problems are one of most frequent health problems for a tree.  Fungus lesions, which typically grow parallel to the tree, and resemble a type of“mushroom” growth,  may be growing near the base (trunk) of the tree, which is an indication that there may be internal rotting problems, and can appear between a few weeks to years.

Rotting Trees Are More Serious Than You Think:

It is important to look and care of trees.  If trees become unhealthy, it could  suddenly fall on power lines, a house, or disrupt your neighbors.  You must take responsibility and care of your property;  carefully noting differences in tree growths, such as discolored leaves, strange growths near the base of the tree, or noting pest control, are all ways to prevent the problem of rotting trees, and other future problems which may be involved.