Insect Pests
We identify damaging insects, determine whether their populations warrant management, and select appropriate treatment strategies based on the pest, plant, timing, and severity of the problem.
Science-Based Tree and Shrub Care
Plant Health Care in Nashville and Middle Tennessee
Healthy trees and shrubs require more than reacting to visible symptoms. GreenRoots provides professional plant health care focused on diagnosis, monitoring, prevention, and targeted management of insects, diseases, soil problems, and environmental stress.
What Is Plant Health Care?
Plant health care is a systematic approach to maintaining trees and shrubs by looking at the entire plant and the environment in which it is growing. That means considering insects and diseases, but also soil conditions, roots, moisture, planting depth, nutrition, weather, construction impacts, and other sources of stress.
The objective is to understand why a plant is struggling before deciding what should be done. Some problems warrant treatment. Others are better addressed through cultural changes, soil management, pruning, monitoring, or simply allowing natural processes to continue.
Penn State Extension describes plant health care and integrated pest management as an approach that considers the entire landscape, identifies the insect, disease, mite, or growing condition involved, and then determines whether action is needed and which management strategy is appropriate. Read Penn State Extension's guide to creating healthy landscapes.
Problems We Evaluate and Manage
Tree and Shrub Diseases
Fungal, bacterial, oomycete, and other disease problems can produce similar-looking symptoms. Accurate diagnosis is important before developing a treatment or management plan.
Environmental Stress
Heat, drought, excess moisture, construction damage, restricted rooting space, poor drainage, and other environmental conditions can weaken trees and produce symptoms that resemble pest or disease problems.
Soil and Root Problems
Compacted soil, buried root collars, poor drainage, limited oxygen, unfavorable soil conditions, and damaged roots can affect the health of the entire tree.
Nutrient and pH Concerns
When nutrition or soil chemistry is suspected, soil or plant information can help determine whether nutrient management is actually warranted rather than applying fertilizer automatically.
Decline and Poor Vigor
Thin canopies, yellowing foliage, premature leaf drop, dieback, and poor growth may result from several interacting factors. We work to identify the underlying causes before recommending corrective action.
Diagnosis Comes Before Treatment
Yellow leaves do not automatically mean a tree needs fertilizer. Dead branches do not automatically mean an insect is responsible. Leaf spots do not always require a fungicide.
Many plant problems produce similar symptoms, and more than one stressor may be involved at the same time. GreenRoots evaluates the plant, symptom pattern, site, roots, soil conditions, pest evidence, disease signs, and recent environmental history before developing a recommendation.
University of Minnesota Extension organizes plant diagnosis around distinguishing insect, disease, and nonliving causes of plant problems. Explore the University of Minnesota plant diagnostic resources.
A diagnostic visit may consider:
- Foliage symptoms and symptom patterns
- Insect activity and feeding damage
- Disease signs and symptoms
- Trunk and branch condition
- Root collar and planting depth
- Soil moisture and drainage
- Soil compaction and rooting space
- Recent construction or site changes
- Weather and environmental stress
Targeted Treatment Instead of Routine Spraying
A plant health care program should be based on what is actually happening in the landscape. Treatment may involve insect management, disease suppression, trunk injection, soil-applied products, foliar treatments, cultural changes, soil improvement, pruning, watering recommendations, or continued monitoring.
In some situations, no pesticide treatment is necessary. Beneficial organisms, plant tolerance, pest population, timing, and the value of the affected plant all factor into the management decision.
Penn State Extension notes that immediately reaching for a pesticide can waste money and may interfere with beneficial organisms. Its plant health care framework emphasizes identification and selecting management strategies based on the actual problem. Learn more about Penn State's plant health care and IPM approach.
Healthy Canopies Depend on Healthy Roots
A substantial portion of plant health care happens below ground. Roots need an appropriate balance of moisture, oxygen, soil structure, and available rooting space. Problems in the root zone can affect canopy density, growth, foliage color, and the tree's ability to tolerate other stresses.
Heavy or compacted soils can limit drainage and oxygen in the root zone. Planting depth, buried root collars, grade changes, construction activity, and restricted rooting areas can also influence long-term tree health.
University of Minnesota Extension emphasizes the importance of soil texture, drainage, pore space, oxygen, and appropriate planting depth for healthy root development. Read University of Minnesota Extension's tree and shrub planting guidance.
Below-ground care may include:
- Root collar evaluation
- Soil decompaction
- Air excavation
- Organic matter incorporation
- Soil testing when appropriate
- Drainage evaluation
- Irrigation and watering recommendations
- Mulch and root-zone management
Some Problems Require Ongoing Management
Not every tree health issue can be solved with one treatment. Certain insects and diseases require carefully timed applications, repeated monitoring, or treatments performed over multiple seasons. Other problems improve as underlying site conditions are corrected and the plant regains vigor.
Where an ongoing program is appropriate, GreenRoots develops the treatment schedule around the biology of the pest or disease and the needs of the plant rather than simply repeating the same application every visit.
ISA includes Plant Health Care, insect and disease problems, mature tree care, mulching, and trees and turf among its core educational topics for tree owners. View the International Society of Arboriculture's Plant Health Care resources.
Why Choose GreenRoots for Plant Health Care?
Board Certified Master Arborist Leadership
GreenRoots is led by an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist. Plant health recommendations are approached within the broader context of tree biology, soils, structure, site conditions, insects, diseases, and long-term management.
Advanced Diagnostics
We use field observations, professional diagnostic tools, and targeted testing to investigate plant problems rather than relying on symptoms alone.
Targeted Applications
Treatments are selected for a specific problem, plant, and timing. Our objective is to use the appropriate tool when intervention is warranted rather than applying products simply because they are available.
Whole-Plant Perspective
Canopy symptoms often begin with problems elsewhere. We consider roots, soil, planting conditions, moisture, environmental stress, and site history alongside insects and diseases.
Specialized Plant Health Services
Tree and Shrub Diagnosis
When the cause of decline is unclear, start with a diagnostic evaluation before deciding which treatment makes sense.
Emerald Ash Borer Treatment
Valuable ash trees can often be protected from Emerald Ash Borer with professionally timed systemic treatments.
Bagworm Treatment
Bagworm management depends heavily on proper identification and treatment timing, especially on arborvitae, junipers, cedars, and other susceptible landscape plants.
Soil and Root Care
When poor soil conditions or root problems are limiting tree health, treatment may need to focus below ground.
Plant Health Care Service Areas
GreenRoots provides professional plant health care for trees and shrubs throughout Nashville and communities across Middle Tennessee. Select your city for local plant health care information.
Plant Health Care in Nashville, TN
Plant Health Care in Franklin, TN
Plant Health Care in Murfreesboro, TN
Plant Health Care in Clarksville, TN
Plant Health Care in Mt. Juliet, TN
Plant Health Care in Lebanon, TN
Plant Health Care in Smyrna, TN
Plant Health Care in Springfield, TN
Plant Health Care in Portland, TN
Plant Health Care in Westmoreland, TN
Plant Health Care in Lafayette, TN
Plant Health Care in Red Boiling Springs, TN
Frequently Asked Questions About Plant Health Care
What is plant health care?
Plant health care is an approach to managing trees and shrubs that considers the entire plant and its growing environment. It can include diagnosis, monitoring, insect and disease management, soil and root care, nutrition, watering, pruning, and other practices designed around the specific needs of the plant.
Does plant health care mean regularly spraying pesticides?
No. Some plant health problems require pesticide treatment, while others do not. We first identify the problem and evaluate whether intervention is warranted. Depending on the cause, the appropriate recommendation could involve treatment, soil management, pruning, watering changes, monitoring, or another management strategy.
How do I know whether an insect is actually harming my tree?
The presence of an insect does not automatically mean it is causing meaningful damage. Identification, population level, life stage, host plant, symptoms, natural enemies, and the condition of the tree all help determine whether treatment is warranted.
Why are the leaves on my tree turning yellow?
Yellowing foliage can result from several different causes, including root stress, excessive or insufficient moisture, soil conditions, nutrient availability, vascular problems, insects, diseases, or environmental stress. Because the symptom is not specific to one problem, diagnosis should come before treatment.
Can you treat a declining mature tree?
Sometimes. The first step is determining why the tree is declining and whether the underlying problem can reasonably be managed. Some trees respond well to treatment or changes in their growing environment, while others may have advanced structural, root, vascular, or site-related problems that substantially limit recovery.
Do you provide preventative treatments?
Yes, when the pest or disease risk and value of the plant justify preventative management. Certain serious pests are more effectively managed before significant injury occurs. Preventative treatment should still be based on the plant, pest biology, local risk, and appropriate treatment timing.
Do you offer ongoing tree and shrub health programs?
Yes. Some properties benefit from ongoing monitoring and seasonally timed treatments for recurring insects, diseases, or other plant health concerns. The number and timing of visits depend on the plants and problems being managed rather than following the same treatment schedule for every landscape.
Should I fertilize a tree that looks unhealthy?
Not automatically. Poor growth or yellow foliage does not necessarily indicate a fertilizer deficiency. Soil conditions, moisture, root problems, planting depth, disease, pests, and other factors should be considered before deciding whether fertilization is appropriate.
Find Out What Your Trees Actually Need
Whether you are seeing unexplained decline, dealing with a known insect or disease, or trying to preserve valuable trees before problems become severe, GreenRoots can help develop a practical plant health care plan based on the condition of your trees and property.