Japanese Beetles: Invasive Pests Strike Again! Our arborists warn that in the next few weeks you may start seeing a decline in your Roses, Crape Myrtles, Japanese Maples, Plums or other ornamental plants from Japanese Beetles. First brought to the United States in 1916 in a shipment of iris bulbs, this invasive insect has been wreaking havoc […]
Tree Problems
Imagine going for a routine visit to the dentist and, while examining, he notices a cavity in a tooth. Without proper care, you know there is potential for the cavity to get worse. Trees get cavities too but not because of too many sweets.Trees can develop cavities for many reasons including over mulching and buried […]
Many homeowners may rejoice when they see new sprouts from the trunk of a declining or dead tree. To the average person sprouts look like a sign that the tree is recovering and becoming healthy again; however, the opposite is actually true. When trees are stressed or sick, they will try to grow new branches […]
WHAT IS THE SMARTTREAT™ PROCESS? RTEC’S SmartTreat™ process is a highly effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management in our suburban environment. The SmartTreat™ process uses the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment to provide more effective pest management solutions all while using less chemicals on your property. THE SMARTTREAT™ […]
If you’ve been seeing small caterpillar looking insects on your evergreens you are not alone. Our arborists have been noticing an increase in sawflies on ornamental evergreens in the DC metro area. Sawflies despite the name are not flies at all; they belong to the wasp family and can completely defoliate your tree or shrub […]
If you have an ash tree you may have noticed small green flying insects attacking your tree. This insect is called the Emerald Ash Borer and has been labeled the most destructive pest in America. Most of the Emerald Ash Borer’s lifespan is spent in the larva stage where they feed on your trees. However, this […]
Boxwood shrubs and trees are slow growing evergreens. The boxwood blight, also known as “box blight” was introduced to the United States in 2011 when North Carolina, Virginia, and Connecticut experienced outbreaks in nurseries. Although the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services are trying to rid infested fields from the disease through testing of fungicides, it […]
Deer damage can be costly, unsightly, and even pose a health risk. During the harsh winter months when the food supply is low, deer will feast on your plants and tear apart your gardens. In some cases this damage can have long term effects and disfigure your landscape. Annually deer damage exceeds $2 billion nationwide. If that wasn’t […]
Scale insects are tiny creatures that attach themselves to trees and shrubs. These insects feed on the sap produced by the plant and can cause serious damage to the plant over time, including stunted growth, yellow leaves, and dead branches. As a result of their lack of movement once attached to a plant and their varying […]
