Tree Insect & Disease Diagnosis & Treatment

Minnesota trees face a wide variety of threats beyond just the weather. From microscopic fungi to wood-boring beetles, pests can rapidly turn a beautiful landscape into a liability. Shadywood Tree Experts provides custom diagnostic and treatment programs designed to stop these threats before they cause irreversible damage.

1. Wood-Boring Insects (The "Killers") These are the most dangerous pests because they feed beneath the bark, destroying the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients. Without treatment, infestation is often fatal.

• Emerald Ash Borer (EAB): The primary threat to all Ash trees in the state.

• Two-Lined Chestnut Borer: A major killer of Oak trees, often attacking after drought stress.

• Bronze Birch Borer: Frequently attacks weakened or stressed Birch varieties.

2. Sapsucking & Defoliating Insects (The "Stressors") While not always immediately fatal, these insects stress the tree, stunt growth, and leave a sticky mess (honeydew) on your patio or driveway.

• Aphids & Plant Bugs: Tiny insects that suck plant juices, causing leaves to curl and yellow.

• Caterpillars: Includes Tent Caterpillars and Spongy Moths (Gypsy Moths) that eat leaves and strip canopies.

• Scale Insects: Hard-shelled pests that attach to branches and rob the tree of vitality.

3. Fungal Diseases Wet Minnesota springs often lead to fungal outbreaks that ruin the aesthetic appeal of your trees and cause premature leaf drop.

• Apple Scab: Causes olive-green spots and early leaf drop on flowering Crabapples.

• Anthracnose: Common on Ash and Oak trees, causing brown, curled leaves in spring.

• Rhizosphaera Needle Cast: A fungus that turns Blue Spruce needles purple/brown and causes them to fall off, typically starting from the bottom branches.