Tree Health

Tree health diagnosis and treatment across Tampa Bay

A struggling tree usually has a specific cause, and guessing wrong wastes money and time the tree might not have. Laurel wilt is spreading through Tampa Bay's redbay and camphor trees, carried by the ambrosia beetle, and it can kill a mature tree within weeks. It does not infect oaks, but aging laurel oaks decline fast on their own from heart rot and internal decay. Lethal bronzing does its own damage to sabal and Washingtonia palms, and Ganoderma butt rot works slower but is just as final for palms and hardwoods alike. We connect you with crews who can tell the difference between ordinary heat stress and something that needs immediate attention.

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Arborist inspecting bark for disease signs on a Tampa Bay laurel oak

What's included in this service?

Canopy inspection for dieback, thinning, and discoloration
Trunk and bark inspection for beetle activity and disease signs
Laurel wilt screening on redbay, camphor, and avocado trees
Lethal bronzing screening on sabal and Washingtonia palms
Soil and root zone checks for compaction and drainage issues
Ganoderma and fungal conk identification at the trunk base
Written health assessment with a treatment or removal recommendation

When do you need this service?

A laurel oak is wilting or browning from the top down
A palm's lower fronds are discoloring and dying first
You see mushrooms or conks growing at the base of a tree
Bark is cracking, weeping, or showing small beetle holes
A neighboring property has confirmed laurel wilt or lethal bronzing
Construction nearby has visibly stressed a tree's canopy or roots

What do homeowners ask about Tree Health?

What is laurel wilt, and does it affect my oaks?

Laurel wilt is a fungal disease spread by the redbay ambrosia beetle, and it kills trees in the laurel family: redbay, swampbay, camphor, and avocado. It does not infect oaks, including laurel oak, which is a true oak that just shares the name. If a laurel oak is declining, the cause is usually heart rot or internal decay, since laurel oaks are short-lived and prone to it. Either way, early diagnosis by an arborist tells you what you're dealing with.

What does lethal bronzing look like on a palm?

Lower or older fronds turn a bronze or brown color first, and the discoloration moves upward through the canopy over time. There is no cure for an infected palm. Removal is usually the recommendation once bronzing is confirmed, to protect nearby healthy palms.

Is my tree just stressed from the heat, or is something seriously wrong?

Curled leaves, some yellowing, and slower growth during peak summer heat are usually just drought stress and often improve with deep watering. Real trouble looks different: branch dieback starting from the tips, thinning canopy, or bark that's cracking or slipping. A short site visit usually sorts out which one you're dealing with.

Can a tree with root rot be saved?

Sometimes, if it's caught early and the damage is limited to part of the root system. Soil aeration, drainage correction, and reduced watering can help. Advanced root rot with significant trunk decay usually isn't reversible, and at that point removal becomes the safer option.