When you think of summer in Indiana you think of hot humid air and you probably worry about protecting your trees from drought. What you might not think about is that your trees absorbed too much water in spring and then have to survive in hot and humid summer air. This change in weather pattern is when plants are more prone to root rot.

“Unusually wet weather results in poor root grwth, predisposing plants to problems. The plant failed to develop an extensive root system because water was too easily acquired. During these periods of excessive moisture, roots may even leak, attracting opportunistic fungi and water molds that infect and rot roots. These infections may be completely asymptomatic in the aboveground portion of the plant until spring and summer rains change into summer heat, dry spells or drought. The poorly developed and/or infected roots that grew during the wet periods can no longer support the aboveground plant (stems, branches, leaves) in dry times.”(Purdue University) According to University of Maryland:

Root rots can be caused by various fungi, such as Phytophthora, Armillaria, Ganoderma, Fomes, Inonotus and Laetiporus spp.
Symptoms include poor growth, loss of healthy needle color (needles eventually turn light yellow or brown), dark brown discolored wood at the base of the stem for several inches above the soil line, and loosening and separation of the dead lower bark.
Other symptoms include slowed growth, smaller than normal needles on evergreens, excessive cone or seed set, premature autumn color, and winter twig dieback.
Infected plant material often has extensive dieback.

So what can you do as a homeowner to prevent this from happening to your trees? There are a few things to keep in mind. (University of Maryland)

There are no cures once the tree or shrub is infected and the fungi cannot be eliminated from the surrounding soil once the tree or shrub is removed.
Root rots can be prevented by proper planting and maintenance practices.
Avoid damage from improper pruning, lawn mowers, and excavation within the root zone.
Avoid planting trees and shrubs in poorly drained compacted soils.
Construction of raised beds or grade changes may be needed to ensure proper drainage.
Root diseases on older established plants can result from changes in water drainage patterns.

If you need assistance with identifying and handling root rot, an assessment should be done by a certified arborist. Browning Tree Service employs Joshua Browning ISA certified arborist license #KY-9849A who is a proud member of Indiana Arborist Association and International Society of Arboriculture, serving the West Lafayette and Lafayette, Indiana area!

Resources:

https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/root-rots-trees-and-shrubs

https://forestpathology.org/root-diseases/

https://www.purduelandscapereport.org/article/root-rot/