Press Releases

No matter where you live, your landscape never truly takes a season off. In northern climates, trees and shrubs may appear dormant, conserving energy beneath bare branches. In warmer regions, growth may continue slowly through the winter months. But above or below ground, plants are constantly responding to environmental pressures. Insect populations are shifting. Fungal pathogens are persisting, and climate stress, from drought to excessive rainfall, is compounding year after year. In 2025, arborists across ...

For nearly a century, Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) have caused extensive damage on landscapes throughout much of the eastern and midwestern United States, and are continuing to expand into new regions. Adults are small, about half an inch long, with a metallic green body and copper-colored wing covers, making them easy to identify during the summer months. While they may be easy to spot and remove, they can quickly damage foliage and turf if not ...

Forests across Colorado are facing a serious threat from the Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB). At Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS), they report that from the late 1990s through 2013, MPB impacted approximately 3.4 million acres of forest in Colorado. In a recent interview with SavATree arborist Liv Duesterberg, we learned the outbreak is again accelerating, especially in Front Range of Colorado. If you live in Colorado, it’s crucial to know how to tell ...

Ambrosia beetle is a term used for a variety of wood-boring tree insects that target hardwood trees. Unlike most wood-boring insects, ambrosia beetles don’t eat the wood itself. Instead, they feed on a symbiotic fungus that they introduce into trees while tunneling. This fungus, often referred to as ambrosia beetle fungus, clogs the vascular system of its host tree as it grows and disrupts the flow of water and nutrients throughout the tree. Ambrosia ...

Boxwoods can be affected by a variety of insects and mites, with the boxwood psyllid (Psylla buxi), boxwood mite (Eurytetranychus buxi), and several scale insect species among the most common.  PSYLLIDS Psyllids are small sap-feeding insects that can harm shrubs like boxwoods by injecting toxins during feeding. This feeding weakens new growth, leading to leaf damage and reduced plant health. Without proactive management, psyllid infestations can cause long-term damage on affected boxwoods. MITES Mites are ...

Bacterial leaf scorch (BLS) is a chronic, insect-transmitted disease caused by the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa. This vascular disease affects a wide range of deciduous trees and shrubs, causing leaves to look burnt, a gradual decline in health, and a shortened lifespan. Once established, BLS cannot be cured. That’s why early detection and management are essential for protecting valuable trees on your landscape. Some tree species that are susceptible to BLS include oak (particularly pin ...

The dotted paropsine leaf beetle (Paropsis atomaria or DPLB) has quietly become one of the most significant dangers to eucalyptus trees in recent years. Both adults and their larvae target the fresh, tender leaves of eucalypts. The damage is cumulative, and what begins as a thinning of foliage can, over successive seasons, escalate into significant canopy loss and even tree death.  These beetles are in the family Chrysomelidae which represent leaf feeding beetles. The adults ...

Canker diseases are fungal or bacterial infections that cause localized dead areas on tree bark, branches, and trunks. These open wounds weaken trees, making them vulnerable to environmental stress. If left untreated, cankers can interrupt the tree’s ability to move nutrients from the leaves to the roots, leading to decline or death.  At SavATree, our ISA Certified Arborists specialize in diagnosing and treating tree diseases and cankers. We use science-backed strategies to manage infections ...

Pine trees are known for their resilience, but even the toughest evergreens can show signs of stress. When you start to notice your pine trees turning brown, it’s easy to assume the worst, but the truth is, browning can occur for a variety of reasons, not all of them serious. Understanding the difference between natural changes and early symptoms of decline is the first step toward protecting your trees and your landscape. Whether you ...

Bark beetles are destructive insects that tunnel beneath bark and can have a detrimental impact on the life and longevity of your trees.   What Are Bark Beetles and How Do They Spread? At SavATree, our ISA Certified Arborists are trained to identify infestations early and implement treatment strategies that help protect and preserve your landscape.  Bark beetles are tiny, wood-boring insects that burrow into bark to lay eggs. As larvae hatch and feed, they create ...

Keep Your Trees Healthy and Resilient  Oak Wilt and Two-Lined Chestnut Borer (TLCB) are two of the most serious threats facing Minnesota oaks. Both can cause rapid decline and even tree death, but with proactive care, the worst-case scenarios are often preventable. Why Oak Protection Matters Oak wilt spreads rapidly through root systems and is deadly to both red oaks and white oaks (though white oaks often take longer to die). There is no effective ...

Boxwood leaf miners are small fly larvae that specifically target boxwood plants. These insects mine the inner tissue of the boxwood leaves, and although tiny, they create outsized damage.   It’s important for property owners to know the signs of boxwood leaf miner damage so they can protect their valued plants. Vigilance, early detection, and swift treatment are key to limiting damage and maintaining the health of your plants.   SavATree’s professional arborists offer custom ...

Needle cast is a fungal disease that affects a wide variety of evergreen trees. It’s often caused by several species of fungi, most commonly Rhizosphaera and Stigmina, which target the needles of conifers and gradually diminish tree health and appearance. If left unmanaged, needle cast can lead to progressive thinning, stress, and long-term decline in affected trees. This disease commonly affects species such as Colorado blue spruce, white fir, several types of pine, hemlock ...

Diplodia tip blight (Diplodia pinea) is a serious fungal disease that weakens tree vitality over time, leading to aesthetic damage, growth reduction, and, in severe cases, structural decline. The disease is commonly seen in urban and suburban landscapes, particularly where trees are under environmental stress. While young trees are typically more resistant due to less cone production and more vigorous growth, older, cone-bearing pines are highly susceptible. Diplodia tip blight primarily affects two-needle pine species ...

Tree borers are destructive insects that tunnel into bark and wood, causing serious damage to landscape trees. While some borer species like emerald ash borers have gained recognition in certain regions, many other varieties pose equally serious threats that often go undetected. Bronze birch borers and Asian longhorned beetles are just two examples of these invasive insects. Without treatment, they lead to branch dieback, weakened structure, and can eventually kill your tree. SavATree's targeted ...

If you’ve noticed a layer of white fuzzy stuff on plants in your yard, garden, or even indoors, it’s likely more than just a cosmetic issue. That fluffy coating is often a sign of powdery mildew, a common fungal disease that can spread quickly if not addressed. Whether you're managing a small backyard garden or maintaining ornamental trees across a large landscape, knowing how to spot, treat, and prevent this problem is ...

If you’ve recently spotted mushrooms on a tree in your yard, you’re not alone—and you’re right to take notice. While some fungi are harmless, others may point to deeper issues affecting the tree’s health and structure. Understanding the type of mushrooms growing on your tree and what they indicate can help you decide what to do next. In many cases, consulting a professional tree service is the best first step ...

Fire blight is a highly contagious bacterial disease that affects trees and shrubs in the rose family, including apple, pear, crabapple, and hawthorn. It causes blackened, scorched-looking branches and can rapidly spread, killing branches or entire plants if untreated. Early diagnosis and proactive care are critical to managing fire blight. With expert evaluation and treatment, property owners can help prevent this aggressive disease from damaging their landscapes. SavATree’s ISA Certified Arborists offer proven treatments ...

Verticillium wilt is a vascular disease caused by soil-borne fungi in the genus Verticillium, primarily Verticillium dahliae and Verticillium albo-atrum. It can cause serious damage to infected plants, often leading to gradual decline or death, making it a major concern for maintaining healthy landscapes. Verticillium wilt affects a wide range of hosts, including trees such as maple, elm, smoke tree, redbud, magnolia, catalpa, ash, dogwood, and boxelder, as well as various other plant and shrub ...

Magnolia scale insects are among the largest and most destructive scale species. They cause significant distress to magnolia trees, and their owners, by attaching themselves to branches and twigs and feeding on the tree’s sap.   Although individual magnolia scales cause minimal damage at first, magnolia scale infestations can significantly weaken trees and reduce flowering. Though rare, magnolia scale can also contribute to tree death in severe, untreated cases.  SavATree's targeted treatments can effectively ...