Tree Disease Treatment in Washington, NJ

What does tree disease treatment involve?

Treatment starts with an inspection of the leaves, bark, branches, and the base of the trunk to identify the pest or disease. Depending on the problem, we may use trunk injections, soil treatments, or pruning to remove infected wood. Pesticide treatments in New Jersey must be applied by a licensed applicator. Most treatments need follow-up visits, since pests return each season.

What are the signs my tree is sick?

Watch for a canopy that's thinner than last year, leaves turning brown or dropping early, and branches dying from the top down. On ash trees, look for small D-shaped holes and patches of bark flecked off by woodpeckers. On beech trees, dark stripes between the leaf veins point to beech leaf disease. White, cottony tufts on hemlock needles are hemlock woolly adelgid. Mushrooms at the base usually mean root rot.

What causes tree disease around Washington?

Emerald ash borer is the biggest threat to local ash trees. Bacterial leaf scorch affects many pin oaks and red oaks and is spread by small leaf-feeding insects. Beech leaf disease and hemlock woolly adelgid have both spread through New Jersey. Stress makes every one of these worse. Trees in compacted clay, trees that went through a drought, and trees with root damage from construction fight off pests poorly. Cutting out infected branches helps slow some diseases.

What affects the cost of tree disease treatment?

Most treatments are dosed by trunk width, so larger trees cost more to treat. The number of trees, how often the treatment has to be repeated, and whether pruning is needed all change the price. A tree that's hard to reach, or one that needs several different treatments, takes more time.

Should I treat the tree or remove it?

Treat a tree when it's still mostly healthy and the problem can be controlled. An ash with more than about half its crown gone is usually too far along. Bacterial leaf scorch has no cure, so treatment only slows it, and a badly scorched oak near the house may be better replaced. When a tree is past saving, safely taking down a dead ash or other dying tree is the next step.

Tree disease treatment questions

How often do ash trees need treatment?

Ash trees protected with trunk injections usually need treatment every two to three years for as long as emerald ash borer is in the area. Stopping treatment leaves the tree open to infestation again.

Can bacterial leaf scorch be cured?

No. Bacterial leaf scorch has no cure, but it moves slowly. Good watering in dry spells, mulch over the root zone, and pruning dead branches can keep an infected oak going for years.

Are tree treatments safe for kids and pets?

Trunk injections go directly into the tree, so nothing is sprayed into the air or onto the lawn. For soil or spray treatments, we tell you how long to keep kids and pets away from the area.

Spotted lanternfly in Warren County

Spotted lanternfly has spread through Warren County, and homeowners in Washington see the gray, spotted adults gathered on trunks from late summer into fall. The insect feeds by the hundreds on tree of heaven, black walnut, red maple and grapevines, and leaves a sticky honeydew that grows black sooty mold on decks, cars and shrubs underneath.

Healthy shade trees usually survive lanternfly feeding, but stressed ones can decline. The most useful step is often removing tree of heaven from the property, since it is the insect's favorite host. Scraping egg masses off bark, stone and outdoor furniture during winter helps too. When a valuable maple or walnut is heavily infested, a targeted treatment can lower the numbers for the season.

Keeping treated trees strong

Treatment works better on a tree that is not fighting other stress. A ring of mulch two to three inches deep, kept off the trunk, helps the roots hold moisture through dry August weeks. A slow soaking once a week in a drought makes a real difference for ash and beech under treatment. Keep lawn equipment and car tires off the root zone where you can.