Preventing Pests from Damaging Your Trees
A single insect infestation can turn a healthy tree into a hazard. Prevention is the best way to keep your trees strong and thriving.
Northwest Arkansas is home to a wide variety of trees, and just as many pests and diseases that threaten them.
From borers tunneling through bark to fungal infections spreading through damp canopies, knowing how to spot and stop these problems early makes all the difference.
Promote Tree Health First
The healthiest trees are also the most resistant to pests.
Proper watering, mulching, and pruning all reduce stress and make trees less attractive to insects and disease.
Removing deadwood and thinning crowded branches improves airflow, which helps prevent fungal problems.
Know the Common Threats
Certain pests are more likely to show up in our region:
Eastern Tent Caterpillar (aka Bagworms): Form large colonies in silky bags and strip trees of their leaves.
Borers (like Emerald Ash Borer): Tunnel into trunks and branches, often killing trees from the inside out.
Scale insects: Sap-feeding pests that weaken maples, oaks, and ornamentals.
Fungal diseases: Including anthracnose and oak wilt, which spread quickly in humid conditions.
Regular Inspections Matter
Catching pests early often means the difference between saving or losing a tree. Look for:
• Holes or sawdust at the base of the trunk
• Discolored or wilting leaves
• Webs, bags, or unusual growths in branches
• Premature leaf drop
Spotting these signs early makes treatment easier and more effective.
When to Take Action
If a tree shows persistent decline despite care, it's time to intervene.
Treatments range from pruning out infected areas to applying targeted insect controls.
In severe cases, removing the affected tree may be the only way to stop pests from spreading to others nearby.
