David Wesley, ISA Certified Arborist
Territory and Services:
David operates out of SavATree’s Springfield, VA branch, providing comprehensive tree, shrub, lawn, tick and deer services to clients in Alexandria, VA. Some popular services offered to clients in the Alexandra, VA area include tree pruning and trimming, tree removal, tree and lawn disease management, tree and lawn fertilization, organic lawn care and tree care options, shrub services such as trimming and disease management, lawn seeding, lawn aeration, deer browsing prevention services including out effective DeerTech program and pest control such as mosquito and tick treatments. If you would like David to come out to your property and create a custom program to care for your trees and lawn, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (571) 282-2500
Qualifications:
David has been working on landscapes for over 25 years.
Education:
David earned his degree in Business Management & Finance from Towson State University.
Industry Involvement and Certifications:
- ISA Certified Arborist
- Maryland Licensed Tree Expert
- Licensed Applicator
- Certified in Plant Health Care and Lawn Care
Community Involvement:
Tree Preservation, Construction Damage, Mitigation, Insect and Disease Control
Personal:
David is married and has two children: a teenager and a toddler. He lives in Burke, VA where he enjoys chess and running.
Why He Became An Arborist:
“I started out in landscaping and providing general tree care services. I really like the tree care aspect of it so arboriculture was the next logical step for me. My career gives me the opportunity to work with people and nature — two things I love.”
Customer Service Philosophy:
“I do whatever it takes to give value and satisfaction to my clients. I want to provide the best possible service for my clients and their properties.”
Social Network:
What are David’s Customers Saying?
Observations in the Field:
Leyland Cypress Decline
September 1, 2019 – I saw these leylands the other day and identified the problem as Seiridium Canker. Rain helps spread this disease, but drought stricken trees are more susceptible to infection. Fungicides are not considered effective and I try to focus on stress reduction with Bio-Stimulant applications. Disease branches should be pruned and destroyed as soon as possible to prevent the spread. Severely infected trees should be taken down. Contact your SavATree Arborist for an evaluation.
Caterpillars
August 31, 2019 – I found these Yellow Neck Caterpillars in a Red Oak tree on one of my client’s properties. There is only one generation per year and they emerge late summer. Mitigation, in this case, only required me cutting this branch out as damage was localized. I will recommend a foliar application next summer for control if caterpillar populations are high. Reach out to your SavATree Arborist for your best control options.
Lawn Concern in Alexandria, VA
August 20, 2019 – I got a few emails over the weekend from a client of mine who was concerned about recent browning in their newly sodded lawn. We had a disease prevention program already in place, but disease pressure has been high this year with all of the afternoon rainfall and humidity. Diagnosis was easy once I got on property. The turf pulled up like a carpet and I found a huge grub population feeding below. We were running an organic program and did not offer grub treatment. We are now going to have to have a rescue treatment applied. Please reach out to your SavATree Arborist for your property needs.
Losing Large, Mature Trees in Alexandria, VA
August 17, 2019 – I have seen a lot of large old growth mature Oak trees die this summer. These are trees that were previously not showing any symptoms of stress. Almost all of these afflicted trees that I have inspected are being attacked by wood boring insects and beetles. These insects are attracted to stressed trees. Trees under stress emit Ethanol. These stressors can be flooding, drought, excessive heat, girdling, pollutants, pathogens or impaired root function. Our best management plan is to maintain tree health. When trees are under stress, we recommend Permethrin based insecticides be applied to the trunks 3-4 times during the year. Please realize that insecticides reduce, but do not prevent attacks on stressed trees. Contact your local SavATree Arborist for an evaluation and management plan!
The Ugly Nest Caterpillars
These unsightly cats are the ugly-nest caterpillar. The caterpillars of this species are known to create nests by tying the leaves of their host plant together. In this case, a redbud tree. Within the nests, they live and feed off the leaves that have been tied together. They can either be pruned out or treated. Contact your SavATree Arborist for an evaluation and a plan.
Azalea Problems
I found these heavily infested azaleas on one of my visits. The picture shows the underside of an azalea leaf with Lace Bugs and their deposits. An active Lace Bug infestation will pull all of the chlorophyll out of the leaf, leaving it nearly white and reducing its transpiration ability. Contact your SavATree Arborist for a diagnosis and treatment plan.
Tree Damage in Alexandria
On July 4th, we had a small storm come through my territory in Alexandria. It came through quickly and severely. More than a few of my clients had their trees and property damaged by strong winds. After assessing a lot of this work on Friday, I was in the position of trying to find a way to get these new jobs scheduled and completed quickly. This was adding to an already 3 to 4 week backlog of work. I worked with one of my crew members on the holiday weekend to get some of the work completed. It was hot and it was humid, but we were able to clean up two of my client properties. I can tell you that they were very happy to have us out there and that I cared enough to be there assisting in the clean up work. At SavATree, we always go above and beyond for our clients. If you are looking for this kind of personalized care, contact us today!
Leaf Diseases
June 26, 2019 – I got a call to assess an elm tree that was dropping leaves. I identified the pathogen as Stegophora ulmea, more commonly identified as Black Spot of Elm or Elm Anthracnose. Symptoms include leaves that turn yellow, curl, have gray, white and black spots and drop prematurely. Protective sprays should be applied in the spring as the leaves unfold. Please contact your local SavATree Arborist for an evaluation and recommendations.
Careful Where You Put Your Hands!
June 26, 2019 – I found this beauty sunning in a small laurel in Alexandria the other day. This is an Eastern Garter snake. It is non-venomous, but aggressive. As an arborist on many different landscapes, I have to be aware where I am putting my hands and my feet. No surprises please. Enjoy your summer!
Spotted: Praying Mantis Egg Case in Burke, VA
June 16, 2019 – I actually found this on my own property in Burke, Virginia. This is a Praying Mantis egg case. They are welcome in most landscapes as they’ll eat almost any insect of a size they can overcome. Each praying mantis egg case will hatch about 100-200 tiny mantises. Once hatched, praying mantis begin feeding on small insects, such as aphids. Later on, they’ll continue advancing up to larger and larger prey. By the end of summer praying mantis can reach several inches in length. Please protect these guys!
Lecanium Scale
June 16, 2019 – I found this on one of my client’s properties in Alexandria, Virginia. It is a heavy infestation of European Fruit Lecanium Scale on a willow oak. This scale prefers oak trees. Lecanium Scales lay 1,000 to 5,000 eggs each in April and May. As the crawlers hatch, they move to the leaves in late May and early June where they feed until late summer. These Lecanium Scales suck sap from the leaves and twigs and they excrete honeydew, a sweet, sticky liquid. Honeydew, in turn, fosters sooty mold fungi that darken the leaves, stems and objects below the infested plant. Heavy scale feeding damage may cause curled, chlorotic (yellow) foliage that may drop prematurely. Smaller infested branches are sometimes weakened or even killed. Contact your SavATree Arborist for a treatment plan.
The Importance of Mulching
June 1, 2019 – Please consider placing mulch around the base of your trees. I see so much damage from lawn mowers and weed whackers where smaller trees become girdled and larger trees become scarred. Just be careful as not to exceed 2 inches deep and do not pile the mulch up on the trunk. The mulch will keep the roots from further damage. We are always looking for ways to help our client’s trees. Contact us today to schedule a free health assessment for your trees.
Tree Problem in Alexandria
May 19, 2019 – Please remember that ropes for hammocks, swings and support need to be moved or replaced every couple of years. I often find situations like these where there is no longer recourse. This can lead to tree failure or tree death. Contact a certified arborist from SavATree to walk your property for advice and recommendations.
Active Squirrels
May 11, 2019 – Squirrels can be cute little rodents running around, but they can also do damage to both large and ornamental trees. They can gnaw on and strip bark from trees. Although this is not too common, I have seen large branches fall from decay due to squirrels and smaller branches and trees struggle. If you want your trees evaluated for potential risk and safety, contact your local SavATree arborist.
Huge Burl in Alexandria, VA
May 3, 2019 – A Burl is a tree growth in which the grain has grown in a deformed manner. It is commonly found in the form of a rounded outgrowth on a tree trunk or branch. The wood is highly sought out by artists, furniture makers and wood sculptors. It usually poses no harm to the tree and can be quite interesting. Reach out to a SavATree Arborist for more answers and for a complementary consultation.
Lightning Protection Systems
April 25, 2019 – I recently outfitted one of my client’s properties in Alexandria with a lightning protection system update. Every so often, a lightning protection system will need to be reviewed and redone. As a tree grows and envelops the copper nails that secure the cable to the tree, those nails need to be replaced and the cable moved away from the tree. The picture shows a fuse system attached to the cable so that an arborist can tell if a lightning protected tree has been struck. Reach out to SavATree and your local arborist to discuss options for protecting your more valuable trees.
Unusual Cherry Trees in Alexandria, VA
April 20, 2019 – Black Knot Fungus affects Cherry, Plum, Apricot and Chokecherry trees in North America. The disease produces rough, black growths that encircle, girdle and kill the infested parts. Black knot occurs only on the woody parts of trees, primarily on twigs and branches, but can spread to larger limbs and even the trunk. A heavily infected plant can be incredibly ugly and are usually candidates for removal. Infected parts can be pruned out and fungicide applications may slow the progression of this disease. If your tree is showing signs of Black Knot Fungus, contact your local SavATree arborist!
Shot Hole Disease
April 9, 2019 – Shot hole disease (also called Coryneum blight) is a serious fungal disease that creates BB-sized holes in leaves, rough areas on fruit, and concentric lesions on branches. Almost all above ground parts of the plants are affected including the fruits, buds and the stems, but the damage is most noticeable on the leaves. The symptoms begin with small (1/10-1/4”) reddish or purplish-brown spots with a light green or yellow ring around them. As the disease progresses, the damaged areas become slightly larger and then dry up and fall away, leaving small holes behind. As the fungus spreads, more leaf tissue is damaged until the leaf falls. Significant infections can reduce the amount of photosynthesis that can occur, weakening the plant and decreasing fruit production. The pathogen overwinters in infected buds and in twig cankers. Infection can occur any time moisture is present for at least 24 hours, as long as temperatures are above 36 °F. At higher temperatures, infection occurs more quickly. The pathogen can remain viable for several months and spores are often airborne. Since the fungi thrive in wet conditions, overhead watering should be avoided. Remove and dispose of any infected buds, leaves and fruit. Contact your SavATree Arborist for disease management!
Alcoholic Flux
November 21, 2018 – This picture shows an Oak tree with bark staining and weeping from alcoholic flux. While there is no direct treatment for this, I usually recommend stress reduction measures with our ArborHealth fertilizer and our ArborKelp applications. I will also often recommend wood borer prevention applications to keep opportunistic insects away.
Emerald Ash Borer Infestation
November 20, 2018 – This picture shows the D-shaped exit hole and frass in the bark and crevices of the Emerald Ash Borer in an already compromised Ash tree. If the tree was still viable, I would recommend the tree injection with TreeAge. In this situation, the tree in question, unfortunately, needed to be removed.
Hornbeam Infection in Alexandria, VA
November 16, 2018 – This picture was taken in one of my clients’ backyards in Alexandria, Virginia. The picture is of diseased foliage from a Hornbeam. White this client does have a disease prevention program in place, it wasn’t sufficient enough for this year. Due to the excess rainfall throughout the summer months, we should have extended our Disease Control applications longer into the season. We have began three Disease – Deciduous treatments for this year and recommended the full program of five treatments for next year.
Invasive Lawn Weeds in Northern Virginia
November 16, 2018 – This photo shows a very invasive weed in the Northern Virginia area — Violets. Violets are vert difficult to control and require special attention. Regular lawn and weed control applications fall short.
Mimosa Webworm Infestation
November 5, 2018 – This picture shows a severe infestation of Mimosa Webworms in a small Honeylocust tree. I recommended 4 to 5 Caterpillar Alert treatments based on the timing of the outbreak
Mushroom Outbreaks
October 23, 2018 – This picture shows a wood decaying fungus at the base of an Oak tree. There have been heavy outbreaks of mushrooms around trees and lawns due to the excessive rainfall this year. This fungi was identified as Armillaria Mellea. We are not recommending tree removal at this time, but agree to revisit the property in 6 months to re-evaluate the situation.
Boxwood Blight in Alexandria
September 10, 2018 – This picture of Boxwood Blight was taken in Alexandria, VA. I recommended 3 Boxwood Blight treatments and ArborKelp to strengthen the shrub.
Territory List:
Alexandria City
Potomac
Fairfax County
Alexandria
Belleview
Community
Engleside
Fort Hunt
Franconia
Jefferson Manor
Kingstowne
Mount Vernon
Newington