The ornamental trees are putting on a show, but spring warmth brings more than just blooms. In this issue: what to watch for on your flowering trees, how to read winterburn damage, a way to get featured on our website, and a few more things worth knowing this month.
Your Dogwoods and Crapemyrtles Are Waking Up. Here’s What to Watch For.
Seasonal Watch
The dogwoods are blooming and the crapemyrtles are leafing out. It’s one of the best parts of spring in Northern Virginia. But the same warm, humid conditions that drive spring growth also create the perfect environment for fungal diseases and pest problems to take hold.
On dogwoods, keep an eye out for tan or brown spots on newly emerged leaves, especially near the tips or along the midvein. These are early signs of anthracnose, a fungal disease that thrives in wet spring weather. Left alone, it can spread from leaves into the branches and cause dieback over time. The key to managing anthracnose is catching it early and starting preventive fungicide treatments before the damage spreads.
On crapemyrtles, look for black, sooty residue on branches and leaves. That sooty mold usually points to an underlying insect problem like crapemyrtle bark scale, which feeds on the tree’s sap and produces the sticky honeydew that mold grows on. It’s also common to see leaf spotting on ornamental trees as humidity picks up.
The bottom line: If your ornamental trees have spots, discoloration, or anything that doesn’t look right as they leaf out, don’t wait to see if it gets worse. A quick diagnosis from one of our arborists can save you a much bigger problem later in the season.
Brown, Crispy Leaves on Your Laurels or Hollies? That’s Winterburn.
Plant Health
If your cherry laurels, hollies, or boxwoods have brown, scorched-looking leaves this spring, what you’re seeing is likely winterburn. It happens when cold, dry winter winds pull moisture out of the foliage faster than the roots can replace it, especially when the ground is frozen.
The good news: winterburn doesn’t always mean the plant is dying. In many cases, the root system is still healthy and the plant can push out new growth once temperatures stabilize. But that recovery takes energy, and a stressed plant is more vulnerable to disease and pest problems during the growing season.
What we recommend is a two-step approach. First, prune out the dead, brown growth so the plant can redirect its energy into healthy new leaves. Second, a biostimulant treatment helps strengthen the root system and supports the recovery process from the inside out, especially in our region’s compacted urban soils.
When to call us: If more than a third of the plant’s canopy is brown, or if you’re seeing dieback on the branches themselves (not just the leaves), that’s worth having an arborist evaluate sooner rather than later. The faster we assess it, the more options you have.
Spotted Lanternfly Nymphs Are About to Hatch
Pest Update
Maryland’s spotted lanternfly quarantine is now statewide. The insects are currently in the egg stage, but nymphs typically begin hatching in late April. The tiny black nymphs with white spots are hard to spot at first, but they spread quickly and feed on dozens of plant species.
Now is a good time to check outdoor surfaces, including tree bark, fences, patio furniture, and vehicles, for egg masses. They look like patches of dried mud. Scraping them off and disposing of them is the simplest way to reduce populations before they hatch.
Around the Landscape This Month
Quick Reminders
Boxwood leafminer adults emerging soon. If your boxwood leaves look blistered or puffy, the larvae inside are about to become adults. There’s a narrow window for treatment once they emerge, so flag it now.
Deer browsing damage is visible. Spring growth makes it easy to see where deer have been feeding over the winter. Our deer repellent program can protect vulnerable plantings before new growth gets hit again.
Mulch refreshes make a difference. A fresh 2–3 inch layer of organic mulch helps retain soil moisture as temperatures rise and suppresses weeds. Keep mulch pulled back from the trunk to avoid rot.
Share Your Experience. Get Featured on Our Website.
From You
We’re grateful for every client who trusts us with their property, and we’d love to hear how your experience has been. Whether it’s a crew that went above and beyond, an arborist who helped you understand a complicated issue, or a treatment that turned things around for a struggling tree, your story matters to us.
We’re currently looking for client testimonials to feature on our updated website. If you’d be willing to share a few words about working with RTEC, we’d love to spotlight your experience and your property.
You can also help us (and your neighbors) by leaving an honest Google review. It’s one of the best ways to help other homeowners in the area find quality tree care.
Interested in being featured? Just reply to this email with a short note about your experience or the service that stood out. We’ll take it from there. And if you have a moment, leave us a Google review here. We read every one.
