Tree Health Assessment & Disease Treatment

A fungal disease spread primarily by sap beetles. Causes rapid browning of leaves starting at the branch tips, moving inward. Red oaks can die within weeks of infection. Prevention: avoid pruning red oaks April–June when beetles are active. Treatment: fungicide injection and root disruption between connected trees.

Multiple beetle species attack stressed pines, boring through the bark to lay eggs. Signs include small pitch tubes (resin on bark), frass (sawdust-like material), and progressive needle discoloration from yellow to red-brown. Severely infested trees cannot be saved — immediate removal prevents spread to adjacent pines.

Caused by Discula destructiva. Symptoms include tan spots with purple halos on leaves, twig dieback starting at branch tips, and blighted flower bracts. Worst in cool, wet spring conditions. Management includes improving air circulation, avoiding overhead watering, removing infected tissue, and fungicide applications in severe cases.

A relatively new pest to NC (first detected 2014), rapidly spreading across the Triangle. White, waxy scale insects cover bark and branches; their honeydew secretions cause black sooty mold. Treatment: systemic imidacloprid soil drench in spring, or horticultural oil sprays for light infestations.

A fungal disease causing orange, spindle-shaped galls on pine stems and branches. Galls weaken structural integrity and can cause stem breakage. There is no effective treatment once established — affected branches should be removed and severely infected trees considered for removal before they become hazardous.

How do I know if my tree is diseased or just stressed?

Key disease symptoms include unusual spotting on leaves, cankers (sunken dead areas) on bark, visible fungal growth, progressive die-back from branch tips, and significant off-season leaf drop. Stressed trees may show similar symptoms but without the distinctive patterns of specific diseases. An arborist assessment can distinguish between the two.

Can tree disease spread to my neighbor's trees?

Yes — many tree diseases can spread between adjacent trees. Oak wilt spreads through root grafts between oaks in the same soil zone and via beetles. Pine bark beetles fly from infested to healthy pines. Dogwood anthracnose spreads via rain splash. If we identify a contagious disease, we'll advise on containment measures.

How much does tree disease treatment cost?

Treatment costs depend on the disease and tree size. Preventive fungicide injections for oak wilt run $100–$400 per tree. Bark scale treatments run $75–$200. Removal of severely diseased trees uses standard tree removal pricing. We provide a full assessment and treatment recommendation before any work begins.

Can all diseased trees be saved?

Not all diseased trees can be saved, and attempting to save a tree that is too far gone wastes money and may allow disease to spread. We give you an honest assessment of the tree's prognosis, treatment options and costs, and a recommendation — with the final decision always yours.

Which trees in Raleigh are most vulnerable to disease?

Red oaks (oak wilt), loblolly pines under drought stress (bark beetle), flowering dogwoods (anthracnose), crepe myrtles (bark scale), and Bradford pears (fire blight, though these trees have many other problems too). Annual inspections in spring can catch problems early when they are most treatable.