By: Shelby McCullough| Published: October 20, 2026
TL;DR: A sick tree usually has one problem in one spot and can often recover once the cause is fixed. A dying tree has dieback that keeps spreading, decay in the trunk, or fast browning that won’t stop. In Orlando, check for top-down thinning, wilting on one side, fungus on the trunk and bronzing palm fronds, and have an ISA-Certified Arborist confirm what’s going on before you remove or treat anything.
A sick tree usually has one problem in one spot, like thin leaves or a wilting limb, and it often recovers once the cause is fixed. A dying tree has dieback that keeps spreading, decay in the trunk, or fast browning that won’t stop. These are the five sick tree symptoms in Florida to check first.
First, know what’s normal. Live oaks drop a lot of old leaves in late winter and spring as new leaves push out. Many other Florida trees lose their leaves every year. University of Florida (UF/IFAS) Extension says bare branches alone should not be used to decide whether a tree has died. For a quick check, scratch a small twig with your fingernail. If it’s green and moist underneath, that part is alive. If it’s brown and brittle, it’s dead. Try several twigs in different parts of the tree.
1. Is the canopy thinning from the top down?
Thinning that starts at the top center of the tree usually means drought or root stress, and you can often reverse it if you catch it early. UF/IFAS research shows that drought-stressed trees drop leaves starting at the top center of the canopy, which is the part you see least from the ground. That’s why most people miss it until the tree is in real trouble.
Orlando’s sandy soil drains fast. A dry spring before the summer rains can stress trees in older neighborhoods like Conway and Union Park, especially big oaks with roots under driveways and streets. During a long drought, UF recommends wetting the top 12 inches of soil every 2 to 4 weeks under the canopy. Trees planted in the last 24 months need more frequent water.
Root stress has other causes too. These include a root flare buried too deep, mulch piled against the trunk, and cars parked over the root zone. Storms also leave damage you can’t see right away. UF found that pines can look fine after a hurricane and then die slowly over 6 months to 2 years. If your trees took a beating this season, a storm damage tree cleanup and check can catch problems before they turn into a fallen limb.
2. Is one section wilting while the rest stays green?
If green leaves suddenly wilt on one section of an avocado, redbay, swamp bay or camphor tree, laurel wilt is a strong suspect. It’s a fungal disease carried by tiny ambrosia beetles. UF/IFAS says symptoms often start as green-leaf wilting in one section of the tree. Next, the leaves turn brown but stay on the branches for up to about a year, and the dieback spreads to more of the tree.
Other signs include thin sticks of packed sawdust poking out of the bark and dark streaks in the wood under the bark. If you have a backyard avocado in Pine Castle or anywhere in Orlando, watch it closely. Other problems can look similar. Twig borers and root rot can also brown leaves, but root rot moves more slowly and doesn’t stain the wood. Moving wood from an infected tree, like firewood, helps spread the disease, so get it confirmed before anyone cuts or hauls it.
3. Are mushrooms, conks or cracks showing on the trunk?
Mushrooms or shelf-like growths on the trunk or root flare mean the wood inside is decaying, and decay does not heal. This is where a sick tree can start to become a safety problem. UF/IFAS Extension in Duval County notes that a mushroom on the trunk signals internal decay. It also warns that a vertical crack points to structural trouble, and a horizontal crack is a sign of imminent trunk failure.
Older water oaks and laurel oaks, which are common across Orlando, often have some decay inside. Nobody can tell how much from the outside. An arborist may sound the trunk with a mallet or use special tools to measure how much solid wood is left.
Palms have their own version, called Ganoderma butt rot. It rots the lower 4 to 5 feet of the trunk and forms a hard shelf, called a conk, near the base. UF says there is no cure, the palm should come out soon after conks appear, and the stump should be removed or ground. Stump grinding after palm or tree removal takes care of that last step.
4. Are your palm’s lower fronds turning bronze fast?
Lower fronds that turn reddish-bronze quickly and keep moving up the crown can mean lethal bronzing, a disease with no cure. UF/IFAS Extension reports it has become very prevalent in Central Florida. Cabbage palms, the state tree, are among the palms it hits.
The first signs are fruit dropping early or flower stalks turning black. Then the oldest fronds turn bronze and dry out, working upward. A normal dying frond turns gray-brown slowly, one at a time. UF/IFAS says the time from infection to death is typically four to five months. Only a lab test can confirm it. Your county UF/IFAS Extension office can explain how to send a sample. Confirmed palms should come out quickly so the disease doesn’t spread to nearby palms.
5. Is your tree stressed, sick or dying?
Use this table to sort what you’re seeing. It’s a starting point, not a diagnosis.
| What you see | What it often means | Can it recover? | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thin canopy at the top during a dry spell | Drought or root stress | Often, if caught early | Deep watering, pull mulch off the trunk, watch for new growth |
| Green leaves wilting on one section (avocado, bay, camphor) | Possible laurel wilt | Depends on spread; confirm first | Arborist check; don’t move the wood |
| Mushrooms at the base of a large oak | Internal decay | Decay does not reverse | Arborist decay and risk check |
| Lower palm fronds bronzing fast | Possible lethal bronzing | No, once infected | Lab test, then removal |
| Hard shelf conk on lower palm trunk | Ganoderma butt rot | No | Remove palm and grind stump |
Signs you need to call a pro now
- Large dead limbs hanging over your roof, driveway or play area
- A horizontal crack across the trunk
- A new lean, or soil heaving up on one side of the base
- Mushrooms or conks at the base of a big tree
- A palm crown browning fast from the bottom up
- Two or more trees of the same kind showing the same symptoms
Why call McCullough Tree Service about a sick tree?
McCullough Tree Service is family-owned and operated and based in Longwood. We’ve cared for trees around Orlando and nearby communities for over 30 years. We have 3 ISA-Certified Arborists on staff. We’re fully insured and drug-free. We offer certified arborist consultations to help figure out whether a tree can be saved with trimming or needs to come down. We also handle tree removal, including crane-assisted removal when a tree is large or tight to a house. Free estimates are always available, and financing is offered.
If a tree in your yard has any of these symptoms, call McCullough Tree Service at (407) 734-5854 or book a free estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a sick tree recover on its own?
Trees stressed by drought or root problems often recover once you fix the cause, like deep watering during dry spells or pulling mulch off the trunk. Internal decay and diseases like lethal bronzing and Ganoderma butt rot do not reverse.
Who can test a palm for lethal bronzing in Orange County?
Lethal bronzing can only be confirmed with a lab test. Your county UF/IFAS Extension office can explain how to collect and submit a sample to a UF/IFAS diagnostic lab.
Can I plant a new palm where one died from Ganoderma butt rot?
UF/IFAS does not recommend replanting a palm in the same spot without special precautions, because the fungus survives in the soil. Removing or grinding the old stump is part of cleaning up the site.
Is it safe to keep firewood from a tree that died of laurel wilt?
UF/IFAS notes that moving infested wood, such as firewood, helps spread laurel wilt to new areas. Have the tree confirmed first and ask about keeping the wood on site instead of hauling it away.
How do I know if a dead tree is a danger right now?
Large dead limbs over a home or driveway, horizontal trunk cracks, a new lean or lifted soil at the base all point to higher failure risk. Have an ISA-Certified Arborist look at the tree before the next storm.
Recommended Reads
- McCullough Tree Service in Orlando & Central Florida
- Certified Arborist in Orlando & Central Florida
- Storm Damage Tree Cleanup in Orlando & Central Florida
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