Liriope’s Muse: Tree Care Tips from a Master Arborist
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Liriope's Muse: Is Your Tree Infested with Borers? Here's How to Tell
As a Board-Certified Master Arborist, one of the biggest threats I see in urban and residential trees is borer infestation. These invasive insects tunnel into trees, feeding on their internal tissues, bringing pathogens, and often causing irreversible damage. The sooner they're detected, the better chance you have of saving your tree—and protecting the rest of your landscape!
Here are several signs your tree may be suffering from a borer infestation:
1. Sawdust at the Base of the Tree: This is often one of the first visible signs. As borers tunnel into the wood, they push out fine sawdust-like material called frass, which collects around the base or in bark crevices.
2. Toothpicking: Some species of borers leave behind small, pencil-lead sized toothpicks of frass protruding from the bark. This striking symptom is a clear indicator of active borer activity.
3. Holes in the Trunk or Branches: Small, round or oval exit holes can be seen on the bark where adult borers have emerged. These holes vary in size depending on the insect species but are a telltale sign of internal damage.
4. Dripping Sap or Wet Spots: Trees may ooze sap from entry points, which sometimes mixes with frass or sawdust. This can result in discolored streaks or wet-looking areas on the bark.
5. Thinning Canopy and Loss in Vigor: If a tree is losing leaves prematurely, showing sparse foliage, or experiencing dieback in the crown, it may be due to the disruption of nutrient flow caused by borer damage.
6. Cracked or Peeling Bark: As the tree tries to compartmentalize the damage, bark may begin to crack or fall away, revealing internal galleries chewed by the larvae.
7. Presence of Woodpeckers: An increase in woodpecker activity may indicate a hidden borer problem, as these birds feed on the larvae inside the tree.
If you recognize one or more of these symptoms in your tree, it’s crucial to act quickly. Borer infestations can kill trees in a matter of seasons and spread to nearby healthy trees, turning one problem into many.
Contact a Certified Arborist immediately for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. With timely intervention, it's often possible to stop the spread and preserve your trees for years to come.
Protect your landscape and don’t wait until it’s too late!! Contact Eric Putnam BCMA, Inc. today!
Liriope’s Muse - Expert Tree Care Tips
PHC isn’t just about treating pests or diseases. It’s about looking at the entire system a tree is living in—soil conditions, site history, climate compatibility, moisture levels, pruning practices, and even nearby construction activity. As a Board-Certified Master Arborist, I’ve found that educating property owners about PHC is one of the most important steps in creating healthy landscapes and resilient trees.
Urban trees can face harsher conditions than forest trees. This can result in shorter lifespans and greater maintenance needs for urban trees. Understanding these differences is key to keeping urban trees healthy and thriving. Learn more in this blog!
Discover the incredible survival secrets of the resurrection fern, a plant that can lose 97% of its water and spring back to life after rain. Learn how this remarkable epiphyte thrives on trees, its role in ecosystems, and what it teaches us about resilience in nature.
With its sprawling canopy, storm resistance, and unique botanical traits, the live oak stands apart—even sparking debate about its classification. Is it a white oak or a red oak? Let’s explore the fascinating history, biology, and significance of this iconic tree.
At Eric Putnam BCMA, Inc., we take a sustainable approach to tree care as eco arborists, ensuring that our work benefits both trees and the ecosystems they support. But what exactly does an eco arborist do, and how do they differ from traditional arborists? Let’s explore!
Give your trees the boost they need with our organic, all-natural biostimulant service. Contact us today to schedule your bi-annual application and watch your landscape thrive!
While most people associate Valentine’s Day with roses and chocolates, it’s also the perfect time to think ahead to one of the most breathtaking seasons—fall! If you want your Houston landscape to glow with vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows come autumn, now is the time to start planning and planting.
Winter can be harsh on your trees. Freezing temperatures, snow, and ice can stress even the hardiest species, leaving them vulnerable to damage as the seasons change. As a board-certified master arborist, I’ve seen how proper post-winter care can make all the difference in a tree’s health and longevity. Here are some essential tips to help your trees recover and thrive after a winter freeze:
Lichen is a fascinating organism that often raises concerns among tree owners. Many homeowners notice lichen growing on their trees and wonder if it poses a threat to the health of their landscape. As a certified arborist, I aim to clarify the facts and dispel common misconceptions about lichen and its relationship with trees, read this weeks blog to learn more!
The northern red oak (Quercus rubra) has been named the 2025 Tree of the Year! Check out this blog to learn more about the significance of this tree!
Decorating outdoor trees is a wonderful way to spread holiday cheer and bring festive charm to your yard. However, it’s essential to ensure that your decorations do not harm the very trees you’re adorning. Follow these dos and don’ts to keep your trees healthy and happy throughout the holiday season.
As winter paints the world in frost and snow, evergreen trees stand as steadfast sentinels of life and vitality. Unlike their deciduous counterparts that shed their leaves, evergreens maintain their verdant splendor through the coldest months, offering beauty, shelter, and a festive spirit. These trees, rich in symbolism and ecological importance, are worth celebrating this holiday season.
As we gather to celebrate Thanksgiving, let’s take a moment to appreciate the trees that have quietly shaped this holiday. From the orchards to the forests, trees are woven into our traditions in more ways than we realize.
Pine tip borers are small yet highly destructive pests that can severely damage pine trees if left unchecked. Understanding how to identify these pests, their lifecycle, and their effects is essential for keeping your trees healthy and thriving.
Pine bark beetles are tiny but mighty pests that can wreak havoc on your pine trees. They spread quickly, introduce harmful pathogens, and often mean certain death for infested trees.
Hiring a tree service company can be a big decision, and not all companies offer the same level of quality, safety, and reliability. Your choice of service provider can impact not only the longevity of your trees but also the safety of your property.
The post oak (Quercus stellata) is a remarkable native tree species, known for its rugged beauty, hardiness, and ecological significance. Check out this blog to learn more !
Planting trees is one of the most impactful ways to improve your landscape and benefit the environment. However, choosing the right season to plant can make all the difference in helping a tree thrive. Check out this blog to learn more!
Insurance companies are increasingly pressuring homeowners to prune or remove trees under the guise of liability and safety concerns and in doing so they are murdering healthy and otherwise safe trees.
If you've ever wandered through a forest, admired a sprawling oak, or simply observed the trees in your yard, you might have wondered where these beautiful plants got their color
In many landscapes, trees and grass coexist, but not always harmoniously. It is a common misconception that grass does not grow under the trees canopy due to the shade or lack of sun, which is simply incorrect. check out this blog to learn about a trees natural allelopathy.
When it comes to environmental activism, Julia Lorraine Hill, also known as "Butterfly," stands out as a symbol of dedication and courage. Check out this blog to learn more about Julia and how her determination saved many historical trees.
CODIT is an acronym for Compartmentalization Of Decay In Trees. This term is used in the tree care industry to describe the processes that occurs when a tree is wounded.
Tree girdling is a common condition plaguing many urban trees, often going unnoticed until significant damage has been done. In this blog you'll get a greater understanding of what tree girdling is and how to avoid it.
Ball moss is a small, tufted plant often found on trees in the southern region commonly mistaken to be harmless. In this article, we'll delve into the impact of ball moss on trees and what you can do to manage it.
A common concern among our customers is the impact of tree roots on their yards, particularly regarding the health of their driveways and sidewalks and maintaining the overall aesthetic appeal. In this blog, we'll explore the reality of how roots interact with concrete and structures, as well as the crucial role a tree's root system plays and why it is so essential to the life of the tree.
Crape myrtles are cherished for their vibrant summer blooms and striking bark. However, these beautiful trees and shrubs face a growing threat from crape myrtle bark scale. In this blog we will delve into CMBS, prevention, and management tips tho keep your crape myrtles thriving.
Trees are remarkable organisms that continually adapt to their environment. Among the many fascinating behaviors they exhibit, tropic leaning and mechanical leaning are often misunderstood.
Natural disasters bring out the best and worst in people... and open up communities to unscrupulous services. Read this blog to understand price gouging and how to report it in times of disaster.
Living in a city doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the joys of homegrown fruit! In this blog we delve into planting and care tips to keep fruit trees thriving in your yard year round.
In this blog post, I’ll delve into what carbon sequestration is, how trees contribute to it, and why it’s vital for our planet’s health.
In the tree industry, we are constantly coming across trees who have fallen victim to herbicide damage. in this blog we will delve into what herbicides are and their effects on trees.
Do you have a dead tree in your yard and dont know what to do with it? In this blog we will explore all of your options from recycling, repurposing, and removal!
Much like humans, trees have a natural balance called mass damping. Check out this blog to see how storm pruning can throw off this balance.
Explore the botanical marvels, ecological significance, and the cultural and economic impacts of the Texas Pecan Tree in this blog!
From its humble origins in the American South to its widespread popularity in landscapes worldwide, the magnolia continues to inspire awe.
We don’t yet have the answer to this age old question and the chances are we won’t be around long enough to find out, but check out this blog for the closest answers we have.
Ever wondered the similarities between a Certified Arborist and a Doctor? Check out this blog that details the fascinating parallels between the two industries.
Phytophthora is a root rot disease that plagues plants of all kinds, causing emmense economic and environmental loss across the world. This pathogen or 'Plant Destroyer' as it kills its host starting from the roots and growing upward through the tree or plant.
The dry and hot conditions of Houston’s summers are hard for even the most resilient of trees to survive. Our Board Certified Master Arborist, Eric Putnam, has compiles a list of 7 tips that can help ensure your beloved trees stay healthy during this trying time.
I recently took a short trip to the beautiful sunshine state of Florida (St. Petersburg) to bask in the sun and take in the nature, and thought I’d share some of my discoveries with you all in this blog!
It's important to keep your trees in mind during the construction process, let us help you help preserve your trees!
Spring has sprung, which means the rainy season is upon us! If your yard turns into a pond this time of year or is prone to flooding in general, you may want to consider planting a Cypress tree.
Read this informative blog about the International Day of Forests and learn what part you can play in conserving our environment.
Want to get your trees into tip-top shape for spring? Well now is the time to do so! In this blog, we cover the best time of the year to prune your trees!
Dealing with pesky overhanging tree branches? Are they yours to trim? Read this blog now to find out your rights!
Should Roses really be number one? Read this article to find out why we think wildflowers are way more beautiful and important.
