Leaf scars sound pretty bad, but they aren't too much of a concern for healthy trees. Scarring occurs when leaves fall off the tree, which happens almost daily. Large or deep scars are a cause for concern, but as long as they stay surface level, your tree will be okay.
If you're unsure about whether or not a leaf scar is bad, Monster Tree Service of Grand Rapids is here to help. We can inspect your tree and determine how to care for it if it needs treatment.
What Is a Leaf Scar?
Leaf scars are much like scraping your knee. It's a small injury that heals on its own in due time, though it may leave a small mark behind. As long as the leaf scar is on the surface level, it doesn't need any special treatment.
These scars occur when a leaf becomes detached from the tree. You'll notice the scar along twigs, limbs, and occasionally the trunk. They're more noticeable on seedlings because the tissue is soft.
Leaf scars start out soft but will scab over as they heal and become hard again. You may notice bundle scars within a leaf scar, which are small, round scars where the leaf was connected to the tree.
Causes of Leaf Scars
Scars occur when leaves fall off of trees, which can happen at any point in the growing season, though it's more common in the fall months.
Harsh weather can remove leaves forcefully and leave behind a noticeable leaf scar that may need more time to heal. Leaves being pulled off the tree can also result in scars.
Many trees develop scars when they lose axillary buds, which are buds that grow from the nodes of the plant.
When Leaf Scars Become Problematic
You usually don't need to worry about leaf scarring because it's so common in the plant world. But just as paper cuts are no big deal to humans, sometimes you end up with a bigger injury than you expected that needs extra care.
Young trees that are thin and only a few feet tall are susceptible to diseases when they have leaf scars. These tender trees need protection from injury since the open wounds serve as entry points for pests and diseases. For larger trees, scars that go deep enough to expose soft plant tissue can become an issue if the rest of the tree is diseased.
Let Monster Tree Service of Grand Rapids Care for Your Trees
Monster Tree Service of Grand Rapids can help you protect your tree from a bad leaf scar and many other issues. A healthy tree receiving appropriate nutrients, sunlight, and water is much less susceptible to injury. When you turn to us for tree help, we'll teach you the importance of deep tree roots in Grand Rapids, MI, and how they'll prevent issues from bottom to top, including leaf scarring.
Give us a call today at 616-681-4107 so we can help you make sure your trees are in good shape.