When should I have my trees assessed by an arborist?

Any time you notice a change: unusual leaf drop, sparse canopy, crown dieback, fungal growth at the base, bark damage, or a lean that's worsened after a storm. Annual assessments for mature trees on your property are worth the cost — problems caught early are far cheaper to treat than trees that reach the point of removal.

Can fertilization save a declining tree?

Sometimes, yes. Trees in poor soil or stressed by construction activity often respond well to deep root fertilization. Trees declining from structural failure, advanced disease, or root damage from hardscape installation typically cannot be saved by fertilization alone. We will give you an honest assessment of whether treatment is likely to work before recommending it.

What are signs my tree has a pest or disease problem?

Key signs include: sparse or discolored foliage in a section of the crown, early leaf drop, unusual bark texture or color (blistering, oozing, cankers), holes in the trunk (borers), sawdust at the base, shelf mushrooms or conks on the trunk or major roots, and dieback progressing from branch tips inward. Call us if you see any of these.

What is deep root fertilization?

Deep root fertilization uses a high-pressure probe to inject a liquid fertilizer solution directly into the root zone — typically 8–12 inches below the soil surface. This bypasses compacted surface soil and puts nutrients where the fine roots can absorb them. It's more effective than broadcast granular fertilizer for stressed or mature trees in compacted urban soils.

What is Crape Myrtle Bark Scale and how is it treated?

Crape Myrtle Bark Scale (Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae) is an invasive soft scale insect from Asia. Clemson confirmed it in South Carolina in 2019, in the metro Columbia area, and it is now widespread in Greenville and Spartanburg counties. It coats bark in a white waxy shell; the honeydew it produces grows black sooty mold that darkens the entire trunk. Treatment is a two-part protocol: imidacloprid soil drench (systemic, absorbed through roots, takes 4–6 weeks to take effect) combined with horticultural oil spray applied directly to the bark. Do not top the tree in response — that compounds the damage. Most crape myrtles recover fully within one growing season with proper treatment.

How does construction damage affect trees on my property?

New construction within 10 feet of a tree's drip line compacts the root zone and often severs feeder roots. The tree may look healthy for 3–5 years after construction ends, then decline rapidly. Signs include progressive crown thinning, smaller leaf size year over year, and early fall color. Deep root aeration and fertilization following ANSI A300 Clause 6 standards can restore soil structure and nutrient availability if treated within the response window. Once structural root damage is advanced, fertilization will not reverse the decline — but it can slow it and extend the tree's useful life.

Martin Tree and Turf Care arborist arriving with gear for a tree care visit on a residential lawn in Upstate South Carolina

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Tree Care Services in Upstate SC Keep What You Have. ISA-Certified.

Health assessments, deep root fertilization, pest and disease treatment, and structural pruning to keep your trees healthy and safe. ISA-certified arborist on every assessment.

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James Martin · ISA Certified Arborist · TCI Certified

ISA Certified Arborist

Licensed & Insured

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24/7 Emergency Line

Serving Upstate SC

ISA Certified Arborist

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International Society of Arboriculture — Cert #SO-356834A

TCI Certified

Tree Climbers International

Tree Climbers International Certified Tree Technician

Licensed & Insured in SC

$1M Liability · $2M Umbrella

Certificate of insurance provided before any job begins

Free Written Estimates

Exact price in writing before any work begins — no surprises on your bill

24/7 Emergency Response

Emergency line answered any time of day or night — response time depends on distance and active jobs

What Does Professional Tree Care Include?

A declining tree gets harder and more expensive to deal with the longer it goes untreated — early diagnosis costs a fraction of removal. An arborist assessment tells you exactly what you're dealing with and what your options are. Upstate SC's combination of heavy clay soils, rapid residential development, and humid subtropical climate creates specific stress patterns — Crape Myrtle Bark Scale spreading through Greenville neighborhoods, Bradford Pears showing structural decline at 15 years, and construction-damaged root zones in Simpsonville and Boiling Springs subdivisions that leave mature trees declining a decade after homes are built.

✓Arborist health assessments — not guesswork

✓Deep root fertilization injected directly into the root zone

✓Pest and disease diagnosis and targeted treatment

✓Corrective structural pruning to fix weak branch attachments

Arborist Consulting →Tree Risk Assessment →Tree Trimming →Deep Root Fertilization →Tree Disease Treatment →

How Much Does Tree Care Cost in Upstate SC?

Tree care is almost always cheaper than removal. A $250 fungal treatment on a 40-year oak in Greenville is a better outcome than a $1,800 removal. Tree care pricing is site-specific — the ISA Certified Arborist evaluates the tree in person and gives you written pricing before any treatment begins.

✓Tree health assessment: $150–$300

✓Deep root fertilization: $200–$600 per tree

✓Pest or disease treatment plan: $250–$800 depending on severity

✓Ongoing care program (assessment + two treatments): $400–$1,200 per year

ISA Certified Arborist assessing tree health in Upstate South Carolina

Tree Health Problems Specific to Upstate SC

Crape Myrtle Bark Scale is the most common pest call we receive in Greenville and Spartanburg — an invasive insect from Asia (Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae) that Clemson confirmed in South Carolina in 2019 and is now present in most neighborhoods here. You'll see white waxy clusters on the bark and black sooty mold on leaves beneath the crown. Treatment combines an imidacloprid soil drench absorbed through the root system and horticultural oil spray applied directly to the bark. Most trees recover fully within one growing season with a single spring treatment.

Pine Bark Beetles — Ips species and Southern Pine Beetle — are the second major pest threat, attacking Loblolly Pines stressed by drought, construction activity, or storm damage. The first sign is reddish-brown sawdust at the base and needles fading from the top down. A Loblolly in active beetle attack cannot be saved — it needs to come down before the beetles move to neighboring trees. We will tell you the difference between a tree that can be treated and one that needs removal.

How Tree Care Works

Health Assessment

We evaluate tree structure, soil conditions, root zone, and signs of pest or disease activity.

Care Plan

Specific recommendations — fertilization, pest control, pruning, or soil amendment — with a clear expected outcome for each.

Treatment

Deep root fertilization, targeted pest or disease treatment, corrective pruning, or structural support applied per the plan.

Follow-Up

We schedule a revisit to evaluate results and adjust if needed.

Why Martin Tree and Turf Care?

Arborist-led from the first assessment to the final cleanup, with the price in writing before any work starts — and a crew that leaves your property clean.

ISA Certified Arborist
TCI Certified
Licensed & Insured $1M/$2M
OSHA-Compliant
24/7 Emergency Line
Written Estimates

James Martin, ISA Certified Arborist — Martin Tree and Turf Care

James Martin, ISA Certified ArboristGet Your Free Estimate

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Frequently Asked Questions

: Tree care costs depend on the service: a health assessment runs $150–$300; deep root fertilization costs $200–$600 per tree; a pest or disease treatment plan runs $250–$800 depending on severity and tree size; and an ongoing care program (annual assessment plus two treatments) runs $400–$1,200 per year. Tree care is almost always cheaper than removal. We provide a free written estimate before any work begins.
: Tree care covers everything that keeps a living tree healthy: Arborist-led pruning, deep root fertilization (injecting nutrients directly into the root zone), pest and disease diagnosis and treatment, soil aeration and amendment, and structural support systems like cabling. It's preventive and restorative work — the alternative to removal.
: Any time you notice a change: unusual leaf drop, sparse canopy, crown dieback, fungal growth at the base, bark damage, or a lean that's worsened after a storm. Annual assessments for mature trees on your property are worth the cost — problems caught early are far cheaper to treat than trees that reach the point of removal.
: Sometimes, yes. Trees in poor soil or stressed by construction activity often respond well to deep root fertilization. Trees declining from structural failure, advanced disease, or root damage from hardscape installation typically cannot be saved by fertilization alone. We will give you an honest assessment of whether treatment is likely to work before recommending it.
: Key signs include: sparse or discolored foliage in a section of the crown, early leaf drop, unusual bark texture or color (blistering, oozing, cankers), holes in the trunk (borers), sawdust at the base, shelf mushrooms or conks on the trunk or major roots, and dieback progressing from branch tips inward. Call us if you see any of these.
: Deep root fertilization uses a high-pressure probe to inject a liquid fertilizer solution directly into the root zone — typically 8–12 inches below the soil surface. This bypasses compacted surface soil and puts nutrients where the fine roots can absorb them. It's more effective than broadcast granular fertilizer for stressed or mature trees in compacted urban soils.
: Crape Myrtle Bark Scale (Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae) is an invasive soft scale insect from Asia. Clemson confirmed it in South Carolina in 2019, in the metro Columbia area, and it is now widespread in Greenville and Spartanburg counties. It coats bark in a white waxy shell; the honeydew it produces grows black sooty mold that darkens the entire trunk. Treatment is a two-part protocol: imidacloprid soil drench (systemic, absorbed through roots, takes 4–6 weeks to take effect) combined with horticultural oil spray applied directly to the bark. Do not top the tree in response — that compounds the damage. Most crape myrtles recover fully within one growing season with proper treatment.
: New construction within 10 feet of a tree's drip line compacts the root zone and often severs feeder roots. The tree may look healthy for 3–5 years after construction ends, then decline rapidly. Signs include progressive crown thinning, smaller leaf size year over year, and early fall color. Deep root aeration and fertilization following ANSI A300 Clause 6 standards can restore soil structure and nutrient availability if treated within the response window. Once structural root damage is advanced, fertilization will not reverse the decline — but it can slow it and extend the tree's useful life.

What Customers Say About Our Work

5.0 stars · 137 Google reviews

"James and our crew have done an excellent job for us on several occasions. His knowledge was very helpful. They are professional and reliable."
— Debbie V · Upstate SC

"Every detail was carefully addressed and planned for. James was professional, knowledgeable, friendly, and a true pleasure to work with. The team members worked hard and were very pleasant. His knowledge and expertise are beyond compare."
— John A · Upstate SC

Free wood chips for your beds

Mulch is part of tree care, and fresh wood chips are the material we would put down ourselves. We can leave chips from your job on site, or request a free load of wood chips delivered to your address, whether or not we are doing work for you. A load runs about 15 cubic yards and costs nothing.

Know Your Exact Price Before Any Work Begins

The certified arborist evaluates your tree in person and puts the price in writing. That's the number you pay — no verbal quotes that change on arrival, no invoice surprises. No pressure. No obligation.

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Or call directly: (864) 913-3978