Juniper spider mites can cause significant damage to junipers by feeding on the plant’s sap, leading to a stippled or bronzed appearance of the foliage. Of course, prevention and treatment for spider mites is included in a Plant Health Care subscription from Arborscapes. (As are myriad other pests and diseases) If you would like to become a part of our...

Dogwood anthracnose is a serious disease caused by the fungus Discula destructiva. It affects flowering dogwood trees, leading to large, tan to brown lesions on the leaves, dieback of twigs, and premature leaf drop. If left untreated, it can be lethal to the tree. Of course, prevention and treatment for dogwood anthracnose is included in a Plant Health Care subscription...

Dogwood borers (Synanthedon scitula) primarily attack flowering dogwood trees. These small moths burrow into the bark and feed on the cambium layer, which can cause significant damage and even tree death if infestations are severe. For that reason, it is important to monitor and treat for dogwood borers attentively. Of course, prevention and treatment for dogwood borer is included in...

Why is soil not dirt? Dirt is what is found on your clothes after playing outside. Soil, on the other hand, is a living, breathing, symbiotic ecosystem teeming with bacteria, fungi, algae, and other tiny creatures. Dirt is what we are left with after development takes place. Whether because all the soil was scraped away for grading, or the pounding...

How important is monitoring and, as needed, reducing your tree canopy? For the sake of tree health, safety and beauty, it’s up there. In landscaping as in life, it is wise to plan ahead and act. Late summer and early autumn – before the ice storms strike and winter’s winds blow – is the right time to consider your tree...

If you will allow this analogy: Cherry trees have become the rock stars of the tree world. They live fast and die young. What I’m trying to say is that it’s a challenge to keep a cherry tree alive and well, especially in the Carolinas. These beautiful, bountiful trees like it cooler than a Carolinas summer and warmer than one...

Arborvitae blight, which can be caused by Phyllosticta or Pestalotiopsis is a fungal disease that affects arborvitae trees. Infected trees display symptoms like browning and dieback at the tips of branches, often starting from the lower parts of the tree and progressing upward. Of course, prevention and treatment for arborvitae blight is included in a Plant Health Care subscription from...

In Charlotte and the surrounding area, one of the most persistent issues homeowners deal with is Arborvitae Spider Mites. They often create fine webbing on the plants, which can be a noticeable sign of infestation. Early detection and appropriate treatment are essential to prevent the spread of these mites and to protect the health of Arborvitae plants. Arborvitae spider mites...

In this summer season of popup storms and high winds, Arborscapes’ Tree Care team offers a solution to the threat. As they put it succinctly, “Cabling and bracing.” Installing cables or braces as recommended by a board-certified master arborist can spare your trees from defects, damage and even having to be removed. These defects, or cracks, can put maples, oaks,...

Elm borers are wood-boring beetles that can infest and cause significant damage to elm trees. The larvae tunnel into the tree, creating galleries and disrupting the flow of nutrients and water. Over time, this can lead to the decline or death of the tree. Of course, prevention and treatment for elm borers is included in a Plant Health Care subscription...

What, you might ask, is frass? In layperson terms, it’s excrement left by insects. For the purposes of our summer newsletter, let’s call it like it is. It’s the “little brown dots” that rain down on porches, patios, sidewalks and driveways. It comes courtesy of the orange-striped oakworms that infest oak trees primarily from July through September. You’ll know it...

Bagworms can cause significant damage to your trees if left uncontrolled. In the Charlotte area, bagworms affect arborvitae, cedars, leyland cypress, junipers, and pine trees. So if you’re finding bagworms on arborvitae, or any of your other trees, we have some bagworm treatment suggestions. Of course, bagworm treatment and prevention services are included in a Plant Health Care subscription from...

At Arborscapes, what excites our arborists most about the job is caring for the canopy of our city. And there have been few threats to that canopy as urgent as the recent introduction of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). The EAB, which landed in North America from China in 2015, is bad business. If not stopped, it can claim 99.9...

Springtime azaleas are something almost everyone looks forward to. Bright, colorful and beautiful azaleas can thrive in the Charlotte area and give a vibrant look to any landscape. But azaleas in full sun inherently get lace bugs. These insects feed on the undersides of azalea leaves, causing damage that can reduce the plant’s overall health and aesthetic appeal. Adult lace...

Spider mites are tiny arachnids that feed on plant cells, causing stippling, discoloration, and even leaf drop in severe cases. Boxwood spider mites can be particularly problematic for boxwood shrubs. Of course, prevention and treatment for boxwood spider mites is included in a Plant Health Care subscription from Arborscapes. (As are myriad other pests and diseases) If you would like...

Holly scale, a type of armored scale, is a small insect that attaches itself to holly plants and feeds on the plant’s sap. Over time, this can weaken the plant, cause yellowing of leaves, and even lead to premature leaf drop. There are several variations that affect holly plants, azaleas, camellia, and other ornamentals. These are often referred to as...

When my phone rings this time of year, I can predict what many callers are going to say: “My plants aren’t looking good.” We’ll take a look. The diagnosis is often the same. “It’s winter burn.” Here in the Carolinas, early Spring can bring a wildly fluctuating swing in temperatures, 70s during the day, 20s for several nights running. That’s...

For the beauty of your trees and the safety of people and property down below, early Spring is a great time to prune that dead wood. Early Spring is when certified arborists can best inspect the tree before new buds begin to sprout. That makes it easier for them to determine what’s dead, dying, damaged, infested or diseased and needs...