When temperatures rise, do you find twigs and small branches scattered across your yard? Fragments continuously falling from your tree might not seem as significant as a massive limb crashing down, but they could indicate that your tree is handling something serious.
Why are branches falling off my trees? Cut Rite Tree Service, a top provider of tree services in Bakersfield, CA, lists possible answers in the post below.
Is Branch Loss Normal?
If you notice this branch litter problem in the summertime, it could be a case of your trees doing some natural pruning. Trees often self-prune to shed small branches or limbs that fail to thrive. The plant does this by gradually weakening the connection with the trunk.
Reasons Your Tree May Be Shedding Its Branches
Despite this being a possible explanation, sudden branch loss isn’t always due to high-temperature limb failure. Why are branches falling off my tree, then? It could be one or more of these underlying causes:
Pest Infestations
Insects thrive in the summer, which can be a problem for plants. Have wood-boring insects weakened the tree’s structural integrity? Branch breakage is more likely.
Do you suspect an infestation is causing branch shedding? Contact an arborist to evaluate the plant’s health. The sooner a professional provides treatment, the better.
Fungal and Disease Infections
Branch loss is also a symptom of illness in trees. Infections often trigger weakness and decay in the wood, which can cause breakage.
Even if the infection targets only the leaves and forces wilting, the aftereffects could include branch dieback. Shedding may occur either way.
Drought Stress
It’s easy to confuse the effects of drought stress with self-pruning. In both cases, the tree may shed weak or damaged branches to conserve energy. The big difference is in the tree’s condition.
If the tree is under constant exposure to high temperatures and lacks water, it won’t have enough moisture to send to all limbs. To survive, the tree will prioritize its core structure and start shedding branches. This is not a healthy process, it’s a severe stress response.
Watering your plants is crucial during summer heatwaves, as drought stress could kill them.
Foliage Overload
A thick, lush canopy may be beautiful, but the bulkiness could put undue stress on weaker limbs. Additionally, the weakened limbs might not fall immediately. However, with wind damage during a summer storm, they could still break loose.
Pruning overgrowth is the best way to prevent this problem. Getting an arborist in to cut things right will prevent the harm that improper pruning can do.
Contact Our Experts To Cut Rite To the Tree Problem
Why are branches falling off my tree? Without a thorough assessment from a skilled arborist, that’s difficult to answer definitively. Why not contact Cut Rite Tree Service in Bakersfield, CA, for high-quality services that use the latest industry standards and advanced equipment?
Improving your trees’ health could mean pruning thick branches or addressing structural weaknesses and root damage. Whatever your trees need, Cut Rite Tree Service can deliver. Call 559-320-7723 for a free estimate today!

