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Pest Control

Some insects are very beneficial to the landscape, but sometimes others are downright PESTS!  If you've got scale insects or a fungal disease keeping your prized crabapple from looking like a prize, we can help.  

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We use Integrated Pest Management or IPM to control/prevent pest problems and keep your trees healthy.  We deal with tree health as a whole, not just a small piece of the puzzle.  Soil compaction is the biggest area of concern in our lawns & landscapes that leads to pest problems.

 

It is important to note that most native insect pests & diseases attack stressed trees.  Trees in our lawns and landscapes suffering from soil compaction, improper planting, excessive fertilizers, drought, winter injury & many other stressors have weaker defense systems that tend to draw insects that "finish off" the tree.  Generally speaking, if you've got a pest problem, there is an underlying cause of tree stress and health decline; the pests are mostly secondary problems.  Disease & pest management are part of our holistic approach to get your tree healthy and keep the pest invasion from becoming a continuous problem.

 

Emerald Ash Borer and other exotic, invasive species are the exception.  They will attack even the healthiest tree.  Prevention is important!  Early detection is key.

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This photo is an example of Horned Oak Gull

PROBLEMS WITH YOUR TREES?  NOT SURE WHAT'S CAUSING IT? 

Our OISC Certified pesticide applicator license allows us to chemically combat pest/disease problems legally, safely and effectively.

Rusts, scab, blights, and other diseases of ornamental & fruit trees can be managed if caught before damage is too severe.  Usually fungal diseases are fought by preventing infection rather than curing them.  Have an ornamental fruit tree that keeps getting hammered by Scab or Fire Blight?  Think proactively and get ahead of the problem.

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There are many factors that cause decline.  We can identify and correct problems in the landscape and may use multiple strategies to achieve your goal of a healthier tree.  

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For example: our treatment might consist of both pesticide use to combat the pest AND verti-mulching to improve overall tree health.

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Chemical controls include:

  • Insecticides

  • Fungicides

  • Miticides

  • Growth regulators

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Treatments are available for:

  • Emerald Ash Borer

  • Scale Insects

  • Pine wilt

  • Dutch Elm Disease

  • Anthracnose

  • Horned Oak Gull

  • many more!

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This photo is an example of Armored Scale Damage

Let's talk about a growing concern here in southern Indiana: Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)

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Emerald Ash Borer is a growing concern here in Southern Indiana, but all hope is not lost.  Your ash trees CAN be preventatively (and sometimes curatively) treated for EAB.  Not all ash trees are worth saving from a cost standpoint, but yours might be worth gold to you.  For instance, if your ash tree is in a poor location (see photo below) or has poor structure that will result in future problems (V-crotches, splitting limbs, etc.) then it may not be worth the investment to keep the tree alive and a removal may be warranted.  However, if you have a healthy ash with good structure and it's important to you to keep for shade or other reasons, then a treatment would be the only option to save it.  Don't let this exotic pest decimate your favorite ash tree.

 

After infestation, the chance of saving the tree can drop dramatically.  If you are interested in keeping an ash tree, then early detection and preventative treatments can save it.  If not, then a removal should be considered.  We can help you decide if treatment is warranted.  We would much rather help you save a tree before infestation, if desired, than to remove it after it's been killed.

THIS PICTURE ILLUSTRATES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TREATMENT AND NO TREATMENT.  THE THIN, SICKLY LOOKING ASH ON THE LEFT WAS NOT TREATED FOR EAB.  THE MORE FULLY CROWNED ASH ON THE RIGHT WAS TREATED FOR EAB.  PICTURE TAKEN ONE YEAR AFTER INITIAL TREATMENT.

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THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF AN ASH THAT IS NOT WORTH SAVING.  (VIGOROUS AND HEALTHY, YES, BUT IT'S UNDERNEATH A POWERLINE.)

THIS TREE WILL BE TOPPED TO KEEP OUT OF POWERLINES, SO INVESTMENT IN TREATMENT IS NOT RECOMMENDED.  IN FACT, THIS TREE SHOULD BE REMOVED.

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Emerald Ash Bore Damage

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