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Category Archives: Tree Pests

Winter Firewood Safety and Tree Pest Management in Rochester, MN

Posted on December 30, 2022 - 4:32 pm by

Winter in Rochester, MN, is the perfect time to indulge in the occasional campfire or classic cozy fireplace, and in most cases, this activity requires minimal forethought when temperatures are low. However, utilizing wood in Minnesota comes with an inherent risk that is important to remember—even when warmth is a priority. Maier Tree and Lawn encourages property and business owners alike to stay on top of firewood quarantines to help stymie the spread of tree pests and tree diseases across Minnesota. This especially includes firewood transportation during winter months when travel is common and frigid temperatures rule the state.

Tree Pests

Tree pests that inhabit firewood vary from beetles and moths to borers and beyond. In Minnesota, emerald ash borers and spongy moths are especially relevant concerns in 2022. These tree pests can reside within firewood and quickly spread when given the opportunity. Similar to contagious tree diseases, tree pests benefit from minimal oversight. They can lay eggs in hard-to-spot places and quickly overtake vulnerable tree populations.

Active Quarantines

Staying aware of active quarantines can help mitigate the spread of tree pests in Minnesota, but it’s also important to keep a keen eye out for signs and symptoms that a tree pest or tree disease has taken root in your area. Tree care experts like the professionals with Maier Tree and Lawn ask that firewood managers and tree owners watch for defoliation, discoloration, unusual markings, or other notable patterns in your wood.

If you spot a potential problem with your firewood this winter, Maier Tree and Lawn can help you make risk assessments, treatment plans, and safe firewood handling decisions. Rochester, MN, area residents can rely on our tree pest experts to identify infested trees and support tree owners in stopping pest and tree disease spread in its tracks.

If you have concerns about the health of your Rochester, MN, trees, contact us today at (507) 286–8733 or visit our website here for more information. Be sure to use firewood responsibly, and consult tree care professionals if something with the wood or your trees seems strange. Call today for more information on our pest management options and comprehensive tree care support services.

 

 

2019 Emerald Ash Borer Update for Rochester, MN

Posted on September 9, 2019 - 2:08 pm by

The fight against the emerald ash borer population continues in Rochester, MN, as numbers rise in borer-impacted communities. According to recent Minnesota news, not only have the pests been identified in several Rochester communities, but the cost of fighting them continues to increase as well. Tree mortality rates due to emerald ash borer infestations are also going up which means tree owners should consult Maier Tree and Lawn’s tree pest removal professionals as soon as symptoms become apparent.

 

For Rochester area tree owners, an increase in emerald ash borer identification means that caution while working with and transporting wood is essential. Tree pests can be transferred from place to place via chopped wood or tree debris. Spreading emerald ash borers in this manner can ultimately lead to extensive tree damage and death. If you purchase, sell, or in any way handle wood, be sure to confirm that it has been properly cleared of any signs of tree pests.

 

Ash trees continue to be popular among urban areas in Minnesota, making up nearly 15% of all trees in Rochester as of 2016. With this in mind and in order to stem the spread of emerald ash borers, all homeowners should be vigilant about checking trees for signs of tree pests. Be sure to alert the proper authorities if signs of borers are spotted in your area as identification is the first step towards eradication. Be on the lookout for burrowing, damage to the trunk, or visible borers in your trees.

 

For information on how to treat your trees for pest infestation or how to fight back against emerald ash borers, contact Maier Tree and Lawn at (507) 286–8733 or visit our page on pest consultations. Protecting your trees means protecting every tree in your yard, neighborhood, and city. Be sure to check here for future updates on the emerald ash borer population in Rochester, MN.

Tree Care Tips: How to Identify Tree Pests in the Autumn in Rochester, MN

Posted on August 29, 2019 - 11:46 am by

Autumn can be a tough time to identify risks to your Rochester, MN area trees. The transitional nature of autumn means that colors will be changing, leaves will be dropping, and everything will be getting a bit brown. If your trees also happen to develop a tree pest problem, you might miss the signs without even realizing there are signs to miss. Maier Tree and Lawn’s tree care professionals offer these autumn tips to spotting tree pests even when everything in your yard is in a state of fall flux.

 

There will indeed be a lot of changing colors and dropping leaves in the autumn, but the rapidity in which your tree is transitioning can sometimes be cause for concern, especially if that transition is paired with rapid leaf loss. If you notice that leaves are browning and dropping at an alarming rate, it may be a sign of declining tree health or stress. However, depending upon your familiarity with the tree in question, you may not notice if the rate of transition is any faster or slower than previous years. If you’re still not sure, start to watch for other signs of potential tree pests.

 

If everything looks good in terms of leaves, the next tree care stop is the bark and trunk. Discolored bark, odd “bald” spots, and visible rot are all signs that something is amiss, but collections of small holes or burrows should be cause for alarm as well. Borers are a category of tree pest that, true to their name, bore into trees. Trees infected with certain types of borers, such as the emerald ash borer, may not survive longer than five years after infection. If you happen to spot some oddities in the bark of a tree, don’t hesitate to reach out to tree care professionals for a second opinion.

 

Regardless of the autumn signs you spot, you should never feel afraid to ask for a second opinion. Autumn in Rochester, MN is a time of change, and it can feel like it goes by in a blink. If you think you may have a tree with declining health, the tree care professionals with Maier Tree and Lawn are here to offer their expert eyes. Rochester, MN locals can call us at (507) 286–8733 or visit our website.

When Is Insect Control Necessary for your Rochester, MN, Trees?

Posted on June 3, 2019 - 11:13 am by

Living in Rochester, MN, means that, at least for part of the year, you’ll be sharing space with a wide variety of insects. Sometimes this simply results in a few ants in the kitchen or some boxelders in the garage. A minor irritant and annoyance to you, but for your trees, there are bugs out there that pose a real and lethal threat.

At Maier Tree and Lawn, we take insect control seriously when it can put your trees at risk. Knowing how to identify signs of resident tree pests is a great way to ensure that your trees get the help they need before the damage becomes irreparable.

Tree pests come in all shapes and sizes, and the damage they are capable of varies just as widely. In some cases, you might just be dealing with a few webbed nests here and there. Tree pests are also capable of boring out trunks, devouring leaves, and infesting neighboring trees with the power of sheer numbers. Professional insect control can either eliminate the issue entirely, or, in especially severe cases, give your trees a fighting chance.

You may not always need the eyes of a professional to identify a tree pest problem. If you’re lucky, the tree pests will have left some type of obvious evidence of their existence. If you find yourself spotting chewed up leaves, excess webbing, trunk holes, or anything else that indicates your tree might have undesirable visitors, contact insect control specialists immediately. Catching tree pest infestations early is the best way to ensure they don’t spread to other nearby trees.

Now that spring has come, your Rochester, MN, trees are likely springing back into action. If you catch sight of a potential tree pest interfering with the spring blooming process, contact insect control experts immediately. At Maier Tree and Lawn, we offer expert tree pest knowledge and professional insect control services. Don’t let some little pests become the end of your otherwise healthy trees. Call us today at (507) 268-8733 or reach us by visiting our website.

Look Out for Cold Weather Tree Pests in Rochester, MN

Posted on January 16, 2018 - 2:58 pm by

Tree pests come in all shapes and sizes and arrive throughout the year, but the most likely time they’ll catch you unawares is during the cold, cold months of winter in Rochester, MN. While you’re enjoying the holidays and shoveling snow, some pests are settling in to your trees and preparing to propagate in the spring. Our tree health professionals with Maier Tree and Lawn know that tree owners can’t see the future, but encourage everyone to be on the lookout for signs of contagious pest problems every season of the year.

It’s true that common tree pests like the emerald ash borer aren’t going to be completely active during the cold winter months, but that doesn’t mean your trees are safe from pests just because of frigid temperatures. Many tree pests, including EAB, are able to enter a low-energy, hibernation-like state until spring. This presents very temperature-specific risks to tree health, as signs of tree pests may be less apparent.

The biggest winter risk, when it comes to tree pests, is the thoughtless transportation of wood. Fire wood, wood for building, and any other form of material derived from infested trees could spread tree pests far beyond its original bounds. This is dangerous to tree health because once an infestation begins in a certain area, it can be incredibly difficult to contain effectively.

If you’re a resident of Rochester, MN and concerned about tree pests or general winter tree health and are looking for advice, call the tree health experts with Maier Tree and Lawn today at (507) 286-8733, or visit our website here for more information.

Coping with Japanese Beetles and Tree Insect Control in Rochester, MN

Posted on August 11, 2017 - 2:55 pm by

Summertime in Rochester, MN, which is an excellent time for gardening, landscaping, and home upkeep, is unfortunately also prime-time for the Japanese beetle. These common pests are a big fan of most things leafy, and their most active months are July and August. Tree insect control specialists encourage any tree care enthusiast who isn’t already familiar with these troublesome little bugs to learn how to identify them. With a little knowledge of this common pest you can contact the experts at Maier Tree and Lawn and shake that beetle fever.

Though Japanese beetles are still named for their country of origin, they’ve actually been in the U.S. since the early 1900’s. This is good news in some ways because it means that a lot is known about their appearances and habits. Since the first step of tree insect control is tree insect identification, you should try to get acquainted with the Japanese beetle’s style. They are identifiable by their bright metallic green and brown coloration paired with a patchy white and brown underside. Once you can identify them, they’re pretty hard to miss.

Japanese beetles, like many common pests, are hungry for a wide variety of foliage, but they especially enjoy fruiting trees and bushes. Their modus operandi is usually to feed on the leaves of the plant or tree extensively. This not only looks tacky, but it also weakens the plants in question. If you see a lot of them at once, it could be very bad news for your trees.

Some good news about Japanese beetles is that, unlike some common pests, they’re large enough to see and remove by hand. If you’re comfortable touching them you could dispose of them manually. But, for more serious infestations, pesticides are viable the more option.

If you’ve encountered Japanese beetles on your property and are considering using pesticides for tree insect control, remember that properly utilizing these tools is something best left to the professionals. If your Rochester, MN, landscaping or trees have been impacted by Japanese beetles, call Maier Tree and Lawn at (507) 454-7000 or by visiting our website here for more information.

Three Common Pests You May Find in Your Winona, MN Trees

Posted on June 28, 2017 - 6:50 am by

You’d think that trees would have enough to deal with just being at nature’s mercy every day of the year in Winona, MN. Unfortunately, the risks they face extend even further beyond heat, cold, and wind. Minnesota trees also have to suffer the attention of common pests that come in all shapes and sizes. The tree care experts with Maier Tree and Lawn encourage those new to tree care to learn to identify any obvious changes these common pests may bring, and be ready to act if you spot them on your property.

Anyone who’s been engaging in regular tree care may think they can identify the risk factors that your trees face on sight, but the common pests that your trees encounter may look a little different than what you imagine. These creatures extend from mites to moths, and the warning signs can be easier to miss than you expect.

One of the most talked about Minnesotan tree pests in recent years is the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), and many tree care hobbyists are likely familiar with these little insects.  Shiny and bright green, they’re as distinctive as they are destructive. As their name indicates, they primarily impact ash trees on a large scale. This is one common pest that, if spotted, should be reported immediately.

Another common pest is the invasive Japanese beetle. These invasive insects are damaging to turf and ornamental plants. During the winter and spring months, grubs live underground, growing and feeding on grass roots as they grow. In the summer months, they emerge from the soil as fully grown beetles, and begin wreaking havoc on above-ground plants.

These big-name bugs can all mean trouble for your Winona, MN boughs, whether they swarm, fly, or crawl. If you suspect that any of these common pests have come into contact with your trees, contact Maier Tree and Lawn at (507) 454-7000, or by visiting our website here for more information. When it comes to tree pests, early detection is, by far, the best weapon you have.

Identifying Tree Pests and Problems in your Rochester and Winona, MN yards.

Posted on October 12, 2015 - 10:28 am by

Residents of Rochester and Winona, Minnesota, who regularly watch the news may recognize the name “Emerald Ash Borer.” EAB is one of the notoriously damaging tree pests that has invaded forests in the Midwest. The borer is known for both wreaking havoc on Minnesota’s ash trees, and spreading very quickly from area to area. The problem has become so severe that the state has put emergency quarantines on certain counties to prevent the spread of the pest, and yes, Olmsted County and Winona County are included. If you have ash trees and are worried about EAB, contact Maier Tree and Lawn to answer any questions that come up. Unfortunately, if you’re seeing signs of a problem in your trees, EAB may not be the sole culprit.

Tree diseases and tree pests come in different shapes and sizes. Some can impact all tree types equally, while others, like Oak Wilt, only impact certain varieties. A good rule of thumb is to err on the side of caution and call a specialist whenever something looks “off, ” but here are some things to look for if you’re trying to decide what’s worth worrying over.

Signs of tree diseases:

  • Leaves falling out of season.
  • Unusual growths, cracks, or mounds on the trunk.
  • Dead branch tips, especially at the top of the tree.
  • Spots on the leaves.
  • Foliage turning yellow and then brown.

With tree diseases it might be helpful to think of it this way; if there’s nothing where there should be something, or something where there should be nothing, then it’s time to call a professional. Visual changes are key here! Many tree diseases can be spotted with some good old fashioned observation. There’s no need to make a diagnosis or attempt treatment on your own, but seeing the problem is the first step to fixing it. The same rule goes for pests.

Signs of tree pests:

  • Uniform holes in the trunk or branches.
  • Winding patterns on the surface of or underneath the bark.
  • Visible webs, nests, or clumps of bugs.
  • Leaves with missing sections, or missing altogether.

Not all tree pests are as hard to contain as EAB, but that doesn’t mean they can’t significantly damage your trees or even infest your neighbors’ yards as well. If something looks strange in your Rochester or Winona yards, make sure to get in touch with the specialists at Maier Tree and Lawn. A tree-health consultation can set your mind (and your trees) at ease. Tree pests and tree diseases can’t always be prevented, but with the right people involved, then they can be treated.

Maier Tree and Lawn can be contacted by phone at 507.286.8733 (Rochester), 507.454.7000 (Winona), or by visiting our website here!