Trees and other plants are vulnerable to a variety of attacks from insects and diseases. Without early detection and proper treatment, in many cases these problems can eventually lead to premature death. At Wright Outdoor, we do everything we can to treat your trees so you can keep them healthy and alive on your property for years to come.
Chlorosis most commonly affects river birch, pin oak, and maple trees, turning their leaves yellow. Left untreated, chlorosis can eventually kill your tree. Wright Outdoor Solutions can protect your trees with trunk injections in the fall.
Bur oak blight attacks only bur oaks, and although not fatal in the short term, left untreated, it can eventually kill your tree. Symptoms include browning leaves in July and August. Leaves will often stay attached to the branches throughout the fall and winter months, infecting the new leaf crop in the spring. Our International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborists can apply treatment in May or June to protect your bur oaks.
Apple scab is a fungus that infects crabapple trees, resulting in yellow leaves and defoliation by early summer. Wright Outdoor can apply preventive spray in the spring to safeguard your crabapples.
The Emerald Ash Borer, commonly known as EAB, is an exotic green beetle that wreaks havoc on ash trees. While the adult beetle causes little harm, only nibbling on foliage, the larvae cause considerable damage because they feed on the inner bark. While the process can take several years, EAB has killed millions of ash trees across the country by disrupting their ability to carry water and essential nutrients.
Homeowners can have Wright Outdoor remove their ash trees or inject a chemical treatment that may prevent the trees from an EAB infestation. Read more about the Emerald Ash Borer.
White Pines are susceptible to a pine bark adelgid, an insect that is found throughout North America and Europe, wherever white pines grow. The insect, though small and dark, is covered by waxy strands. A tree infected by pine bark adelgids will be off-color with a thin canopy. These pests suck the sap from the tree leaving it weak. Because their populations multiple at an incredible rate, one female in the first generation could lead to 8 million at the end of the season. Using a chemical treatment for up to two years should keep your white pines healthy.
Japanese beetles have been known to eat the foliage, fruits, and flowers off more than 300 plants and trees. While the Japanese beetle won’t kill your trees, it will defoliate them, making them appear dead. Japanese beetles also pose a risk to your lawn, as their larvae (white grubs) feed on and destroy the roots of plants, especially turf grass. Wright Outdoor can perform soil injections to stop these insects before they destroy your lawn, plants, and trees.
Bag worms are commonly found on spruce, arborvitae, and fir trees, but they can attack any species. These pinecone-shaped insects can destroy significant amounts of foliage and kill smaller trees. Our tree experts can spray trees when bagworms are present to end their infestation.
While these diseases and insects are most common to Central Iowa, your trees and other plants may also suffer from other rare or new diseases and insect infestations. Early detection is critical to prolong the life and health of your trees and other plants, and many treatments can only be applied within a small one to two month window, so it is important to schedule a consultation as soon as possible if you think your trees or other plants are suffering from these issues.