trees

New and SERIOUS Southern California Tree threat: Shot Hole Borer

Posted on
by Ty Brann
Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer Photo credit Gevork Arakelian
Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer Photo credit Gevork Arakelian

Southern California has a new threat to Sycamore, Avocado, Coast Live Oak, Box Elder and Castor Bean that causes severe damage and eventually tree death.  The Euwallacea fornicatus, suggested common name is Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer (PSHB), an Ambrosia Beetle, is rapidly killing mature trees throughout Southern California and there’s no way to stop them other than prevention.  Once a tree has been infected, the chance of saving it is extremely small.

This beetle has probably come to the area from South East Asia, and possibly Africa.  It is causing extensive damage to avocado trees in Israel.

Trees that already host some form of fungus are ideal for beetle reproduction.  The mild damage is branch dieback, but can quickly transition to death.  They normally only spend a small amount of time on the outside of the tree before boring in and causing the real damage.

Prevention is the only cure

We’ve been called out by numerous clients throughout Southern California because we are licensed pest control specialists with the equipment that can reach up to 50 feet high.  We are one of the only companies with this capabilities in Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties.  Through our prevention measures on your trees, we can stop the invasion north from Los Angeles County.

Please call us if you have any of the following trees so we can treat them BEFORE they are attacked.  This threat is SUBSTANTIAL and if you have these trees, you must act promptly or risk losing them.

  • Acacia (Acacia spp.)
  • Box elder (Acer negundo)
  • Big leaf maple (Acer macrophyllum)
  • Evergreen Maple (Acer paxii)
  • Trident maple (Acer buergerianum)
  • Japanese maple (Acer palmatum)
  • Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin)
  • Titoki (Alectryon excelsus)
  • Tree of heaven (Alianthus altissima)
  • White Alder  (Alnus rhambifolia)
  • Camellia (Camellia semiserrata)
  • Moreton Bay Chestnut  (Castanospermum australe)
  • Blue palo verde (Cercidium floridum)
  • Brea (Cercidium sonorae)
  • Coral tree (Erythrina corallodendon)
  • Red Flowering Gum  (Eucalyptus ficifolia)
  • Chinese holly (Ilex cornuta)
  • Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
  • Palo verde (Parkinsonia aculeata)
  • Avocado (Persea americana)
  • London plane (Platanus x acerifolia)
  • California Sycamore (Platanus racemosa)
  • Cottonwood  (Populus fremontii)
  • Black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa)
  • Mesquite (Prosopis articulata)
  • Coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia)
  • Engelmann Oak (Quercus engelmannii)
  • Valley oak (Quercus lobata)
  • English Oak (Quercus robur)
  • Cork Oak (Quecus suber)
  • Castor bean (Ricinus communis)
  • Weeping willow (Salix babylonica)
  • Goodding’s black willow (Salix gooddingii)
  • Red Willow (Salix laevigata)
  • Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda) – See more at: https://plantheroes.org/polyphagous-shot-hole-borer#sthash.yTHsPCVY.1fuB414P.dpuf

MORE RESOURCES TO HELP YOU

Fire Blight Disease on Apple and Pear Trees

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by Ty Brann
Fire Blight Disease - photo by Oregon State University https://flic.kr/p/mWq4At
Fire Blight Disease – photo by Oregon State University https://flic.kr/p/mWq4At

Fire blight is an extremely contagious disease that mostly affects Apples and Pears, but has been known to be problematic to other such fruits. Fire blight can be an extremely costly and tricky condition, to treat, combat and eradicate. The name of this disease comes from the symptoms on affected fruits. The affected fruit look as though they have been burned by a blazing fire. They become very dark in color, but resemble a burned look.  Remarkably in a very short amount of time, minutes in some cases, entire orchards have been destroyed. It’s best to be extremely proactive, or act immediately upon detection   of the presence of this disease.

It takes extreme experience to successfully combat and treat this disease, to prevent the spreading of it, or stop it. The professionals at Kastle Kare, have a proven track record fighting and treating Fire blight disease.  This is a disease that requires immediate action, and regular inspections to prevent costly damages.

Plant, Tree, Shrubs Diseases

Posted on
by Ty Brann

malibu, pest control, plant, pests, plant diseases, insects, exterminatorLandscape Problems

Your Trees and Plants Add Value to Your Property

That’s right money does grow in trees.  In recent findings, it is estimated that healthy trees, shrubs, woody ornamentals and other landscape plants add an average of 15% to the value of a piece of property.

Healthy Plants and Trees Add Beauty

The obvious reason plants and trees add value is because of the beauty they create in your landscape.  We recognize it instantly when we see beautiful landscaping.  We also recognize in when the landscape is suffering from problems, especially in trees.

Tree Diseases and Pests Cause Great Damage

Landscape plants are vulnerable to a variety of diseases, which are caused by

  • fungi
  • viruses
  • bacteria
  • nematodes

malibu, lawn, landscape, plant disease, plant pests, pest controlMost disease causing agents are microscopic.  Most homeowners won’t see the microorganisms which cause:

  • blights
  • Leaf Spots
  • leaf curling
  • Dying leaves
  • and other problems

Although these tree and plant pests are small, the damage they cause is visible and diminishes the beauty of the property.

Kastle Kare’s Plant RX division is Ventura County’s Expert in Tree and Plant Disease Treatment