Crepe Myrtle Bark Scale

A new scale pest that lingers on crepe myrtle trees has been found in the southeastern US threatening their appearance and life span. This pest is spreading fast, leaving behind extensive honeydew deposits and black sooty mold.

Symptoms of crape myrtle bark scale:

• Black sooty mold

• Reduced foliage growth

• Honeydew secretions

• White/gray felt-like substances on trunk or branches

How do I get rid of crape myrtle bark scale?

Before treating your crape myrtle diseases, its important to have an examination by a certified arborist to confirm what exactly (if anything) is needed. Our technicians will apply a pesticide in the spring right as the new growth develops on the tree to attain the best results.

Can I prevent crape myrtle bark scale?

Unfortunately there is currently no preventative measure to avoid this particular scale. However, keeping your trees regularly maintained and in good health can naturally deter them. Pests and diseases are most likely to invade a sick/unhealthy tree.

Click the link below to be connected with an ISA certified arborist now!

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Oak Leaf Miners - Identify & Control

What’s wrong with my oak tree leaves?

Over the past few dry, hot months we have received numerous phone calls about discolorations on Oak tree leaves. Upon further inspection by our certified arborists, oak leaf miners are to blame.

What is a leaf miner?

A leaf miner is an insect, about a quarter inch long, that lives in and eats the tissue of plants. They often leave behind a squiggly trail or big, discolored blotches. A certified arborist can determine the exact tree pest with a tree care inspection.

Can leaf miners damage my trees?

Fortunately, most leaf miner damage is purely cosmetic and is seldom a concern of the overall health of your trees. Leaf drop and defoliation is common, but not threatening. All the leaves on your oak trees will come back next spring with new growth.

How can I get rid of leaf miners?

While there are certain pesticides our tree care experts can apply in large infestation cases, the best practice for getting rid of oak leaf miners is simply raking up and destroying the damaged and dead leaves from around the base of your trees. This can prevent the infestation from spreading to other trees in the area.

If you have any questions or concerns about your trees, click the link below to be connected with one of our ISA certified arborists today!

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How Can I Make My Trees Healthy Again?

We’ve all been there. Schedules get full and the seemingly smaller things get forgotten about. Taking care of your trees and plants doesn’t have to be hard and we have come up with a few key things to focus on going into the new year with tree health care!

Soil Care

Healthy trees will not thrive in unhealth soil. If you have an area on your property where your trees aren’t thriving as usual? It might be a good idea to have a soil sample taken by yourself or an ISA certified arborist to check what your specific soil might be lacking.

Fall Fertilization

Deep root tree fertilization works wonders by improving soil aeration, rejuvenates and improves soil structure, reducing soil compaction and providing key nutrients essential to the health of your trees. This process is best performed in fall or winter, before the growth expands in the spring.

Replace Mulch

Mulching the base of your trees is great for a number of reasons including moisture retention, blocking weed competition, adding organic matter into the soil, preventing erosion, etc. However, as it decomposes, it will need to be replaced. We recommend once a year placing an additional thin layer of mulch to replace what has gone into the soil.

Tree Trimming

Having a regular tree trimming schedule is the best prevention method for avoiding damage, disease and decay in your trees.

Support Weak Tree With Cabling

Winter time can bring about environmental stress on trees that is potentially irreversible if they are already suffering from large cracks, lightening damage etc. Cabling and bracing is a procedure our tree care technicians perform to strengthen the tree without damage so it can withstand heavy winds poor conditions.

Inspect For Disease And Fungus

Sometimes disease and decay are on the inside and don’t show any prominent symptoms. In this case, an ISA certified arborist is needed to properly assess the tree and its condition. However, in most cases, there will be a number of warning signs such as poor growth, loss of foliage, yellowing of leaves, presence of pests or fungus, etc. If you spot any of these issues, its important to get in touch with an arborist as soon as possible to set up a treatment plan for your trees.

If you have questions about your trees or would like a free tree health care assessment by one of our ISA certified arborists, please click the link below to be connected!

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What is the green stuff growing on my trees?

Most of the time, in damp, shady areas you will spot a substance on the branches or trunk of a seemingly declining tree. This substance can be either lichen or moss.

What’s the difference between lichen and moss on trees?

Lichen

• A combination of fungi and algae

• Can be a range of colors including blue, green gray etc.

• Appears in thin flaky patches

Moss

• Always dark green

• Coarse texture

Does moss or lichen harm my tree?

Lichen does not harm trees, though it might seem that way because they are usually found on declining specimen. Actually, lichen just tends to thrive on unhealthy trees because when they are under stress, there are usually less leaves and branches, allowing more light to shine on the trunk and creating the perfect environment for lichen to take over.

How can I get rid of moss or lichen on my trees?

There is no pressing need to rid the tree of moss or lichen as it does no harm to your trees and actually can be beneficial to the environment by providing a food source for many birds and other animals. However, if you would still like to get rid of it, a fungicide called copper sulfate can be applied by an ISA certified Arborist to kill it.

If you have moss or lichen on your trees, it is best to have them assessed properly by one of our ISA certified Arborists to rule out any potential tree disease, tree decay or pests that could be causing stress on the tree to begin with. Use the link below to be connected with an ISA certified arborist today!

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Signs You Might Have A Bark Beetle Infestation

There are more than 600 different species of bark beetles and over 41.7 millions acres of land destroyed from them. They are becoming more common as time goes on and date back to 1996, when the first outbreak began in the U.S. Bark beetles usually go after the weaker trees, decayed or already taken over by some sort of fungus or bacteria. They kill the trees by cutting off their food and water transport abilities.

Symptoms of bark beetles include:

• Pitch tubes, reddish brown in color on the outside of the bark

• Sawdust substances around bark

• Woodpecker holes could indicate there are bark beetles present

• Leaves and needles turn from green to reddish brown

• Tree decline

Unfortunately, once the symptoms of bark beetles are noticed, it usually is too late to apply a pesticide and the tree must be removed to prevent further spread in the area. If you notice the bark beetles early on in their cycle, a pesticide can be applied by a certified Arborist that kills the adults when they land on the tree. This will prevent them from entering, laying eggs and repeating the cycle.

When applying pesticides, make sure you use a certified arborist, as these chemicals can be dangerous and cause more harm to the good and helpful insects of the tree.

If you suspect bark beetles on your trees, it is important to contact your local ISA certified arborist immediately to remediate the situation before they take over.

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What Can We Learn From The Trees In Fall?

There is something special about fall time. The perfect weather, cool breeze with sun just warm enough to go out and enjoy without all those pesky mosquitoes. Most of all, the trees and watching their leaves change colors. Many people call fall a “second spring” where the leaves are all flowers blooming to drop again and return next season.

There are a multitude of life lessons the trees can teach us. We have listed just a few.

Embracing change

Most of us hate change, its scary and unpredictable. But every fall, the leaves show us that change can be a beautiful thing.

Learn to let go

Just as the trees let go of their leaves in fall, we must learn to let go of things that are no longer meant for us in order to grow stronger, healthier and return more beautiful next season.

Dark seasons are necessary

No rain, no flowers. Dark times are inevitable for all of us. It is important to remember that without dark times, we wouldn’t have the determination to be reborn and start again.

Nothing lasts forever

The bad news is that nothing lasts forever, the good news is also that nothing lasts forever. The changing of the seasons reminds us that no matter what, time will still be marching along. Take time to enjoy your life and live to the fullest everyday.

We hope these lessons give you a new way to look at the beauty in the trees that surround us!

How Do I Protect My Newly Planted Trees In Winter?

Planting new trees in your landscape can be a fun and satisfying project. If you timed your project right, planting your new specimen should be performed in dormant season through winter.

But maybe you found the perfect tree for your yard and wanted to plant it sooner than later. That’s okay! We understand. Now that winter is rolling around, however, it’s most important to provide them with the best support possible to ensure their survival.

Cold weather brings along a lot of troubles for new trees. Ice storms, sub-zero temperatures, and strong winds can break branches and damage trees that haven’t had enough time to establish a healthy root system. The constant freezing and thawing of the soil with random spurts of sun can cause root damage and dry out the tree, exposing it to cold damage.

Winter weather in Georgia is unpredictable so having a certified Arborist help you with your newly planted tree will ensure optimal growth. But we have come up with a few tips and tricks to help in the meantime!

• Water, water, water! - Until your tree has a healthy root system, it is important to keep the soil moist, not saturated before the ground freezes in October through mid-November. This will ensure your tree is properly hydrated through the winter drought. If you notice any browning on evergreen trees feel free to give a little extra after this time period, though.

• Insulate the soil with mulch - Mulching around the base of your trees provides a large number of substantial benefits from preventing erosion, weeds and retaining moisture as well as heat. It can help prevent cold winter air from penetrating the soil, exposing the roots to cold damage before they are established. We recommend placing a 4 inch layer around the base of your trees, new or old, keeping it at least 2 feet from the trunk.

• Tree trimming - The dormant season is the perfect time to prune back those new or old trees since they are growing much slower in this time frame. Removing dead or dying branches can help your trees maintain their energy for the beautiful blooms in spring time!

• Wrapping - Wrapping your trees in a breathable fabric such as burlap is a great practice that can help to preserve your trees health while they are still getting established in their new home. There is a specific way to do this, however, so it is best that you consult with a certified Arborist about tree wrapping and preservation

Are your trees ready for the harsh effects of winter in Georgia? We give FREE estimates with our ISA certified Arborists. Give us a call today for a free risk assessment and evaluation of your trees health by clicking the link below!

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Why Is Topping Your Trees Deadly?

Sometimes, due to improper planting or planning, the trees we once loved outgrow them selves and become a problem. It may seem easiest to just chop them at the top to shorten them back down to a reasonable size. However, doing so could put your trees at major risk for decline.

Why is tree topping bad for my trees?

• Improper pruning leaves the tree open for pests and decay to take over

• It triggers response growth, a trees natural reaction to grow a large amount of smaller weaker branches in place of what was lost. This can be very unsightly and dangerous in heavy storms

• The tree struggles to repair the large amount of leaves and branches lost, its main food source

Topping your trees can end up being much more costly than just removing them al together and replanting and specimen that fits your style.

If you have trees that have outgrown their space and need some recommendations on how to fix them, our Arborists in Monroe are always available at the link below!

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