Many homeowners believe that their trees and shrubs require little attention after
    planting, but watering, fertilization, and proper pruning are important to your
    landscape's investment. Take a few minutes to learn more about your tree and
    shrub needs by following our helpful tips below.

    Fertilizing
    Just like any living thing, landscape plants require certain nutrients to grow.
    Fertilizing trees and shrubs helps supply these nutrients, supplementing those
    already provided by the soil. Well-fertilized ornamental plants grow more
    vigorously, look greener and healthier, and produce more flowers. The challenge
    is selecting the correct fertilizers and applying them at the proper rate and at the
    right time.

    Tree & Shrub Pests
    Whether you have newly established landscape plants or stately mature trees and
    abundantly flowering shrubs, you have to stay on guard against opportunistic
    enemies. Certain insects, mites, and diseases, if not properly controlled, can
    weaken your trees and shrubs, making them unattractive and possibly causing
    them to die. Fortunately, with extra vigilance and a little preventive care, you can
    help reduce these problems and protect your plants' health and beauty. Here are
    some insights.

    Arm yourself with information

    Controlling ornamental plant pests does not mean totally eliminating pests. That would be
    impossible and impractical. The key is to keep insect pest populations at levels below those
    causing damage. Before you have to take drastic measures to eliminate unwelcome invaders,
    here are four tips that will help prevent problems in the first place.

    Known enemies
    Certain species of plants are so prone to damage that control is virtually impossible. Find out
    what they are for your area and avoid them, if possible, when selecting plants for your landscape.

    “Out of place” plants
    When a plant is poorly adapted to its environment, it is more likely to have problems. For
    example, insects and diseases are more difficult to control on a shade-loving plant growing
    under the open sun. Make sure the location you have in mind is not contrary to the plant's needs.

    Unfavorable weather
    Some problems are more severe under bad weather conditions. For example, certain leaf
    diseases are more severe in wet springs. If your area commonly has wet springs, then select a
    plant that is resistant to the major diseases common for your area.

    Maintain healthy plants
    Maintaining plants in a healthy condition through proper fertilizing, watering and pruning will help
    protect plants against pest attack and speed recovery from damage.

    Insect Invasions
    Insects and mites are probably the most noticeable pests affecting ornamental plants. They hurt
    not only the appearance, but also the health and vigor of plants. These pests can be subdivided
    into chewing insects, and sucking insects and mites.

    Chewing insects
    These insects feed by chewing the plant tissue. They can be further distinguished as foliage
    and leaf feeders, and stem feeders.

    Foliage or leaf feeders cause:

  • Defoliation – Leaves are totally consumed. Likely culprits are gypsy moths, webworms, tent
    caterpillars, cankerworms, bagworms, and sawflies.
  • Skeletonization – Feeding on leaves occurs between leaf veins. Japanese beetles and elm leaf
    beetles cause this damage.
  • Notching – Insects feed at the leaf edge. These are symptoms of the black vine weevil and holly
    looper.
  • Mining – Feeding on the inside of leaves creates tunnels, tracks or blotches. This is typical of
    birch leaf miners, holly leaf miners, and boxwood leaf miners.

    Stem feeders include borers and root feeders:

  • Borers – Destroy food- and water-conducting tissue, causing dieback and decline of the plant.
    These include the bronze birch borer, dogwood borer, lilac/ash borer, pine tip moth, shoot
    borers and bark beetles.
  • Root feeders – These insects attack the plants roots, bringing on a general decline or the death
    of the plant. An example is the black vine weevil.

    Sucking insects and mites

    These pests feed by sucking sap from the plant. These can be subdivided into:

  • Foliage or leaf feeders – Leave no evidence of holes, but cause small spots, discoloration, leaf
    curling or leaf cupping, and cause leaves to drop. Examples are aphids, white flies, scales, lace
    bugs, plant bugs, and spider mites.
  • Stem feeders – Also do not cause holes, but their feeding causes plant dieback, decline, leaf
    drop, and death of the plant. Adelgid, scales, and mealy bugs are examples.

    Dangers of Disease

    Damage by disease can also be a serious problem for ornamental plants. Symptoms include
    discoloration, leaf drop, dieback, or death. Unfortunately, this usually occurs before the disease
    is identified.

    Pest Control

    In many cases where insects, diseases or mites are involved, a chemical control is needed to
    reduce the damage caused by these pests. The keys to chemical control are:

  • Correctly identifying the pest
  • Applying the proper material
  • Correctly timing the application
Trees and
Shrubs Tips