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Author: Burkholder PHC

Japanese Maple

Written by Burkholder PHC on . Posted in Trees.


Japanese maple trees tend to perform and adapt well in Pennsylvania’s climate. These trees are easily maintained and cared for and enhance your landscaping with their beautiful, striking appearance. These trees offer several varieties of leaf shades. Colors may range from cream, pink, dark purple, reddish-purple, and vibrant shades of red.

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  • Dead Leaf Spots

    Japanese maple dead leaf spots are often caused by:

    • Summer Scorch

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  • Decay/Cankers/Galls

    Japanese maple decay/cankers/galls are often caused by:

    • Sun/Winter Scald

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  • Defoliation

    Japanese maple defoliation is often caused by:

    • Bagworms

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  • Dieback/Flagging

    Japanese maple dieback/flagging is often caused by:

    • Sun/Winter Scald
    • Japanese Scale
    • Phytophthora Rot

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  • Moldy Leaves

    Moldy leaves on Japanese Maple are often caused by:

    • Aphids

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  • Sawdust/Holes

    Japanese maple sawdust/holes are often caused by:

    • Ambrosia Beetle
    • Borers (General)

    Bark holes and sawdust on a Japanese maple tree’s footing are likely indicative of borer infestation. Borers will drill into the tree and tunnel beneath the bark, feeding on the inside of the tree and eventually leaving tiny holes with sawdust coming out once the insects mature.

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  • Wilting

    Japanese maple wilting is often caused by:

    • Japanese Scale

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  • Yellowing/Browning

    Japanese maple yellowing/browning is often caused by:

    • Bagworm
    • Japanese Scale
    • Phytophthora Rot

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Holly

Written by Burkholder PHC on . Posted in Shrubs.

Holly bushes are abundant across the country. They add interest and a splash of color during winter and act as good green backdrops in the summer months. Only the female plant American Holly can produce the berries. Make sure to plant a male variety nearby to grow berries.

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  • Chewed Leaves

    In holly bushes, chewed leaves are often caused by:

    • Deer Browsing

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  • Dead Leaf Spots

    Holly dead leaf spots are often caused by:

    • Tar Spot
    • Spine Spot

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  • Defoliation

    Leaf defoliation is commonly seen during early spring on Holly plants that suffered from freezing injuries brought about by winter. The frozen ground and soil can cause Holly plants to defoliate to try and preserve water, and the dry winds and bright sun reflecting off the snow can cause leaf scorch, too. Black root rot is a common cause of leaf defoliation in holly plants.

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  • Dieback/Flagging

    Holly dieback/flagging is often caused by:

    • Phytophthora Rot
    • Black Root Rot

    The Thielaviopsis basicola is a type of fungus that can cause black root rot and branch dieback on Holly plants.

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  • Moldy Leaves

    Moldy leaves on holly shrubs are often caused by:

    • Camellia Scale
    • Holly Wax Scale

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  • Sawdust/Holes

    Holly sawdust/holes are often caused by:

    • Sapsucker (Bird)

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  • Wilting

    Holly wilting is often caused by:

    • Rodent Damage

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  • Yellowing/Browning

    Yellowing can be indicative of black root rot brought about by the Thielaviopsis basicola fungi or Phytophthora rot.

    Yellowing Holly leaves can be indicative of iron deficiency. If a leaf does not get enough iron, it cannot produce chlorophyll to make the leaves green. Iron deficiency on the shrub may be caused by overwatering or poor soil drainage. 

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Azalea

Written by Burkholder PHC on . Posted in Shrubs.

From the genus of Rhododendron and the family of Ericaceae, Azaleas are flowering shrubs. These shrubs are native to Northern America and are seen in full bloom in the spring months of May and June. Azaleas are shade tolerant, and they prefer living near or under trees.

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  • Dead Leaf Spots

    Azalea dead leaf spots are often caused by:

    • Cercospora Spot

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  • Dieback/Flagging

    The common symptoms of an Azalea’s dieback are progressive death of twigs and branches. However, dieback is usually the result of insects or diseases.

    The diseases that cause dieback in azaleas are two types of fungal diseases: botryosphaeria and phytophthora. Phytophthora is generally fatal, and the symptoms include leaves that go from pale green to yellow to brown, prematurely falling leaves and dieback. Botryosphaeria is a common azalea fungus, causing the branches to die, and leaves on the affected branches turn dark and roll up but do not fall off.

    The insects that can cause dieback are the rhododendron borer and the rhododendron stem borer, two boring pests. Both pests prefer rhododendrons but are known to infest azaleas.

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  • Moldy Leaves

    Azalea moldy leaves are often caused by:

    • Aphids
    • Cottony Azalea Scale
    • Azalea Bark Scale
    • Whitefly

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  • Wilting

    A primary cause of wilting is Phytophthora rot.

    Azaleas can wilt due to drought and improper watering. If an azalea lacks water, either because of improper watering or a drought, the flowers and leaves will curl up and turn brown.

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  • Yellowing/Browing

    Azalea yellowing/browning is often caused by:

    • Azalea Rust
    • Cottony Azalea Scale
    • Azalea Bark Scale

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  • Chewed Leaves

    A primary cause of chewed leaves on azalea shrubs is:

    • Deer browse damage.

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Dogwood

Written by Burkholder PHC on . Posted in Trees.


Native to the eastern United States, the flowering dogwood trees thrive well in Pennsylvania’s climate. They can adapt to both sunny and shady conditions and require minimal care. These trees provide multi-season landscape interest and bloom snow-white or pink flowers in spring, have glossy green and yellow leaves during summer, offer colorful berries in fall and create a scale-like bark during winter.

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  • Dead Leaf Spots

    Dead leaf spots on dogwood trees are often caused by:

    • Anthracnose

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  • Dieback/Flagging

    Pests can lead to dieback. For example, dogwood borers are the larvae of clearwing moths that burrow into dogwood after locating a wound within the tree. The insects feed on the inner bark and cambium, causing crown, trunk, and branch dieback.

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  • Leaf Curling/Cupping

    Dogwood leaf curling/cupping is often caused by:

    • Anthracnose
    • Powdery Mildew

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  • Moldy Leaves

    Moldy leaves on dogwood trees are often caused by:

    • Anthracnose
    • Powdery Mildew
    • Cottony Maple Scale

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  • Sawdust/Holes

    Dogwood sawdust/holes are often caused by:

    • Dogwood Borer
    • Ambrosia Beetle
    • Borers (General)

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  • Yellowing/Browning

    Dogwood yellowing/browning is often caused by:

    • Anthracnose

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Crabapple

Written by Burkholder PHC on . Posted in Trees.


The flowering crabapple foliage offers different fragrant blooms that range from white, pink, red, and carmine. Native to North America and Asia, these trees are popular to landscapers as ornamental trees which provide color interest during spring (blossoms) and fall (decorative fruits).

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  • Chewed Leaves

    Crabapple dead leaf spots are often caused by:

    • Japanese Beetle
    • Deer Browse

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  • Dead Leaf Spots

    Crabapple dead leaf spots are often caused by:

    • Cedar Apple Rust
    • Frog Eye Leaf Spot

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  • Decay/Cankers/Galls

    Crabapple decay/cankers/galls are often caused by:

    • Botryosphaeria
    • Fireblight

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  • Defoliation

    Crabapple defoliation is often caused by:

    • Gypsy Moth

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  • Dieback/Flagging

    Crabapple dieback flagging is often caused by:

    • Fireblight
    • Botryosphaeria

    Botryosphaeria canker is a fungal disease of trees and attacks plants that are already stressed or weakened by other pathogens. The Botryosphaeria canker also causes wilting.

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  • Leaf Curling/Cupping

    Crabapple leaf curling/cupping is often caused by:

    • Aphids
    • Leafhoppers

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  • Moldy Leaves

    Moldy leaves on crabapple trees are often caused by:

    • Powdery Mildew
    • Apple Scab
    • Aphids

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  • Sawdust/Holes

    Crabapple sawdust/holes are often caused by:

    • Sapsucker (Bird)
    • Dogwood Borer

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  • Yellowing/Browning

    Crabapple yellowing/browning is often caused by:

    • Cedar Apple Rust
    • Foliar Disease (Many)

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Arborvitae trees

Arborvitae

Written by Burkholder PHC on . Posted in Trees.


Arborvitae trees are classic favorites for easy-care evergreens that act as hedge or privacy screens. Their sturdiness can withstand heavy snow and also provide  a natural windbreak. Arborvitae trees are native to eastern America and are also known as northern white cedars.

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  • Chewed Leaves

    Arborvitae chewed leaves are often caused by:

    • Bagworm
    • Deer Browse

    Learn More

  • Defoliation

    Arborvitae defoliation is often caused by:

    • Bagworm
    • Deer Browse

    Learn More

  • Dieback/Flagging

    Arborvitae dieback/flagging is often caused by:

    • Borer (Multiple)
    • Phytophthora Rot

    Learn More

  • Sawdust/Holes

    Small holes in the bark and sawdust coming from said holes are typically the result of wood-boring pests. Bark beetles often leave sawdust in or near the holes the insects have burrowed into/out of and seek out weak trees that are stressed by environmental stress, improper watering, pruning injuries, or other insect attacks.

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  • Yellowing/Browning

    Arborvitae yellowing/browning is often caused by:

    • Bagworm
    • Phytophthora Rot

    Learn More

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