Insects & Diseases

Insects and diseases are often the first sign of a stressed tree. While some insects and diseases attack and kill healthy trees, most pest problems are actually the second or third step in a tree’s decline.

Many common insect and disease pests are opportunists; meaning they search out and attack stressed or dying trees and shrubs. A weakened tree loses its natural ability to repel the attacks of insects or disease.

For this reason the best way to combat these pest problems is to keep your trees healthy. Two of the best ways to do this are deep watering and root care.

Deep watering is an attempt to match about 1” of rain each week of any prolonged dry period through slow soakings. Root care is done through the addition of beneficial soil organisms and humates in our fertilizer to decompact and enrich the soil (see our Root Care Fact Sheet).

There are many instances where an insecticide or fungicide is required. For example Oak Wilt and Dutch Elm Disease cannot be stopped without the use of fungicides. Many boring insects are best stopped by insecticides. Pesticides can be used effectively on many landscape tree and shrub pests in conjunction with watering and root care.

For more information call our office at 507-286-TREE to talk to one of our Certified Arborists.