Frequently Asked Questions
Trees and shrubs in the Triangle face heat, clay soils, changing moisture, insects, disease, and other seasonal stresses. Advance Tree & Shrub provides Certified Arborist-led plant health care throughout Raleigh and surrounding communities.
Have a tree or shrub question? Start with our most frequently asked questions below.
TREE & SHRUB HEALTH
What does a Certified Arborist do?
A Certified Arborist is trained in the science of tree care, including tree health, insects and disease, soil and root problems, pruning, planting, and tree structure. At Advance Tree & Shrub, our Certified Arborist evaluates the whole plant and its growing environment to determine why a tree or shrub may be struggling and what care is appropriate.
What areas does Advance Tree & Shrub serve?
Advance Tree & Shrub provides Certified Arborist-led plant health care throughout Raleigh, Wake Forest, Youngsville, Rolesville, Cary, Durham, Knightdale, Wendell, Zebulon, Louisburg, Franklinton, Garner, Clayton, and surrounding Triangle communities.
If you are unsure whether your property is within our service area, contact our office and we’ll be happy to check.
Why are my trees or shrubs turning brown, yellow, or losing leaves?
Browning, yellowing, thinning foliage, or early leaf drop can be caused by heat, drought, too much water, poor drainage, root problems, insects, disease, or soil conditions. Raleigh-area clay soils and hot, humid summers can make diagnosis especially important. More water or fertilizer is not always the answer.
What are the white spots and black coating on my crape myrtle?
White or gray spots on crape myrtle bark may be crape myrtle bark scale, an insect now established in North Carolina. These insects produce sticky honeydew that can lead to black sooty mold on the bark and foliage. Heavy infestations can affect the appearance, growth, and flowering of the tree.
What are the little brown bags hanging from my arborvitae or Leyland cypress?
They are likely bagworms. Bagworms are common throughout North Carolina and frequently attack arborvitae, Leyland cypress, junipers, cedars, and other ornamentals. Early detection matters because young bagworms are easier to manage before significant foliage is lost.
Why are my tree or shrub leaves sticky or covered in black mold?
Sticky leaves often indicate honeydew from sap-feeding insects, such as aphids or certain scale insects. Black sooty mold can then grow on that honeydew. The black coating may be the symptom you notice first, but identifying and managing the insect causing it is usually the more important step.
Does every insect or plant disease need treatment?
No. Our approach is based on Integrated Pest Management (IPM). We first identify the pest or disease, evaluate how much damage it is causing, consider the health and value of the plant, and then determine whether monitoring, cultural changes, pruning, or treatment is appropriate.
Why are my plants struggling even though I water them?
Too much water can cause problems just as easily as too little. Raleigh-area properties often have heavy or compacted soils that drain slowly, which can reduce oxygen around roots. Planting depth, construction damage, soil compaction, drainage, and root health should all be considered when a plant continues to decline.
What is Plant Health Care?
Plant Health Care, or PHC, is proactive care for ornamental trees and shrubs. It can include inspections, insect and disease management, soil care, root-zone improvements, pruning, diagnostic testing, and other services based on the needs of your landscape. The goal is to protect valuable plants before minor problems become major ones.
ROOT HEALTH & OUTDOOR PROPERTY CARE
What is a mulch volcano, and why is it bad for a tree?
A mulch volcano is created when mulch is piled high against a tree trunk year after year. This can bury the natural root flare, hold moisture against the trunk, and encourage roots to grow around the tree instead of outward. Excessive mulch is a common contributor to long-term root and tree-health problems.
How do I know if my tree is planted too deep?
Look at the base of the tree. A healthy tree should widen or flare outward where the trunk meets the roots. If the trunk goes straight into the ground like a telephone pole, the root flare may be buried beneath soil or mulch.
What are girdling roots?
Girdling roots grow across or around the trunk instead of outward into the surrounding soil. As the tree and roots grow, those roots can put pressure on the trunk and interfere with water and nutrient movement. Buried root flares, improper planting, container-grown circling roots, and excessive mulch can contribute to the problem.
How does Advance Tree & Shrub correct buried root flares or girdling roots?
We may recommend Air Spade root collar excavation to carefully remove soil and mulch from around the tree without traditional digging around important roots. Once exposed, our Certified Arborist can evaluate the root flare and girdling roots and determine whether corrective root work, soil improvement, or our Root Revive Program is appropriate.
When is the best time for Air Spade and Root Revive work?
Fall through early spring is often an excellent window for root-zone work because trees are under less heat stress than during summer. However, a declining tree does not always need to wait for a particular season. Our arborist can determine the appropriate timing based on the tree, soil conditions, and work needed.
How can I tell if I have fire ants in my yard, and how do you treat them?
Fire ants often create raised mounds of loose soil in lawns, landscape beds, and sunny areas near pavement. When disturbed, numerous reddish-brown ants may quickly emerge. Advance Tree & Shrub treats fire ants by applying a professional granular treatment throughout appropriate lawn areas, allowing us to address more than just the visible mounds.
Why do I have so many mosquitoes in my yard, and can you treat them?
Mosquitoes reproduce around standing water and adults commonly rest in shaded shrubs, dense vegetation, landscape beds, and wooded edges. Activity is highest during the Triangle’s warm months. Advance Tree & Shrub offers one-time mosquito treatments and recurring monthly mosquito service from April through October to reduce activity around outdoor living areas.
Do you provide services for HOAs, businesses, and landscape companies?
Yes. We work with homeowners, neighborhood HOAs, commercial properties, property managers, and landscape professionals throughout the Raleigh and Triangle area. Services can include Certified Arborist evaluations, ornamental plant health care, insect and disease management, root and soil care, pruning, fire ant management, mosquito control, Tree Risk Assessments, and other specialized tree and shrub services.