Tree Health Assessments in Salt Lake City, UT

Tree health assessments in Salt Lake City answer one question: what's wrong with this tree, and what is it worth doing about it? In the Salt Lake Valley, most tree problems trace back to the same few causes: soil that is alkaline and limey, water that comes from a sprinkler schedule instead of rain, hot, dry summers and cold winters with big temperature swings. Those stresses open the door to canker fungi and borers. Figuring out which came first decides whether the fix is a change in watering, a pruning job, a treatment or a removal.

Iron chlorosis

USU Extension puts Utah soil pH at about 7.2 to 8.3 and calls the lime in that soil the main cause of iron chlorosis. Leaves turn yellow, light green or nearly white while the veins stay green, sometimes on just one branch. Overwatering and poorly drained clay make it worse. If it continues for several years, limbs or the whole tree can die. USU recommends watering deeply and then letting the soil dry before watering again; EDDHA iron chelates placed in the root zone in spring can help, while iron sulfate generally doesn't work in Utah's soils. For the most sensitive trees, USU says replacement with an iron-efficient species is often more practical.

Canker, borers and decline

Cytospora canker, one of the most common diseases of shade and fruit trees in Utah, attacks stressed trees through wounds, sunscald and pruning cuts. Flatheaded borers, USU notes, are usually a problem when drought weakens trees; look for oval exit holes, frass and loose bark. Elm bark beetles breed in dead and dying elms and can carry Dutch elm disease. Many declining trees have more than one of these at once.

Structure and risk

An assessment also covers whether the tree is likely to fail: cracks, cavities, decay at the base, fungus, weak V-shaped forks, dead limbs over the house and roots cut by construction. The 2020 windstorm, which toppled thousands of trees across northern Utah, showed how quickly a weak tree can come down in a big wind.

What you get

We walk the tree with you and explain what we see. If the problem is watering, we say so. If it needs pruning or removal, we write that up as a quote. If it needs a pesticide treatment, we tell you what to ask for, since some products are restricted-use and require a licensed applicator. For a city tree in the park strip, Salt Lake City Urban Forestry offers hazard assessment and health evaluation itself; call (801) 972-7818.