Does my tree actually need fertilizing?

Often not. A tree in decent soil with leaf litter left around it usually has what it needs, and feeding a tree whose real problem is root damage, compaction or drainage just wastes money. Where soil is genuinely depleted — common on newer construction where topsoil was stripped — targeted feeding helps. That is a question worth answering before treating.

What insect problems are common on Montgomery County trees?

Emerald ash borer, which has effectively removed untreated ash from the landscape; bronze birch borer; scale insects on maples and magnolias; bagworms on evergreens; and spotted lanternfly, which is now established across the region and congregates heavily on tree of heaven. Each needs a different treatment and, more importantly, different timing.

Can you treat spotted lanternfly?

Treatment is available, but the more effective step on most properties is removing the tree of heaven that draws them. Lanternfly prefers it strongly, and a property with mature tree of heaven will keep hosting large populations regardless of what is sprayed on the trees you care about.

Is it safe around children and pets?

Applications are carried out by Maryland-licensed pesticide applicators following the label, which specifies re-entry intervals and conditions. We tell you what is being applied, where, and how long to stay off the area before the work happens.

When should trees be treated?

Timing is most of the result. Many borer treatments have to go in before the insect is active, dormant oil is applied while the tree is dormant, and several pests have a narrow window when they are vulnerable. Treating at the wrong time often does nothing at all, which is why an assessment comes first.

Tree Services

Tree Feeding, Disease & Insect Control

Emerald ash borer, spotted lanternfly, bagworm and fungal disease treatment plus deep-root feeding in Montgomery County, MD. Call 301-580-6023.

Call 301-580-6023 Get a Free Quote

About Our Tree Feeding & Insect Control Services

Healthy trees start below the surface. Many trees in Montgomery County are stressed not by disease itself but by compacted urban soil, low nutrient levels, and pest pressure. Rock Creek Tree uses injection feeding, deep-root fertilization, and targeted insect and disease treatments to protect the trees you want to keep.

Emerald Ash Borer Prevention & Treatment: if you have an ash tree on your property and it’s showing any thinning, dieback, or D-shaped holes in the bark, it is almost certainly being attacked by EAB. We have already removed thousands of EAB-killed ash trees across the region. Preventative injection treatment can save a healthy ash tree for a fraction of the cost of removal.

Spotted Lanternfly: Montgomery County is now among the most heavily infested parts of Maryland. The honest position is that lanternflies rarely kill an established shade tree — they stress it, and they coat everything beneath it in honeydew and sooty mold. Blanket-spraying a property does not work. What does is removing tree of heaven, their preferred host, and treating trees that were already in decline before they arrived.

When Homeowners Call Us For Tree Feeding & Insect Control

Ash trees of any kind (preventative or active EAB)
Trees with thinning canopy or yellowing leaves
Spotted lanternflies massing on a tree that was already struggling
Bagworm or webworm infestations on evergreens
Boxwood blight, anthracnose, or other fungal disease
Mature trees in compacted lawns or near new construction

Our Process

Diagnosis

A certified arborist identifies the issue — pest, disease, soil, or stress — before recommending treatment.

Targeted treatment

Trunk injection, deep-root fertilization, or foliar spray — whichever is right for the issue and the tree.

Follow-up

We track results and adjust on a yearly cycle. Most issues respond to a 2–3 year program.

Why Hire Rock Creek for Tree Feeding & Insect Control

Injection treatment — no spray drift, no off-target damage
EAB treatment with proven systemic insecticides
Honest assessment — we’ll tell you when a tree can’t be saved
Lower cost than removal for trees you want to keep

Service Area

We provide tree feeding & insect control services throughout Montgomery County, Maryland and into Northern Virginia — including Arlington, VA, Aspen Hill, MD, Bethesda, MD, Brookeville, MD, Cabin John, MD, Chevy Chase, MD, Columbia, MD, Damascus, MD and more.

Tree Feeding & Insect Control guides from our team

Tree Feeding & Insect Control Services — common questions

Does my tree actually need fertilizing?: Often not. A tree in decent soil with leaf litter left around it usually has what it needs, and feeding a tree whose real problem is root damage, compaction or drainage just wastes money. Where soil is genuinely depleted — common on newer construction where topsoil was stripped — targeted feeding helps. That is a question worth answering before treating.
What insect problems are common on Montgomery County trees?: Emerald ash borer, which has effectively removed untreated ash from the landscape; bronze birch borer; scale insects on maples and magnolias; bagworms on evergreens; and spotted lanternfly, which is now established across the region and congregates heavily on tree of heaven. Each needs a different treatment and, more importantly, different timing.
Can you treat spotted lanternfly?: Treatment is available, but the more effective step on most properties is removing the tree of heaven that draws them. Lanternfly prefers it strongly, and a property with mature tree of heaven will keep hosting large populations regardless of what is sprayed on the trees you care about.
Is it safe around children and pets?: Applications are carried out by Maryland-licensed pesticide applicators following the label, which specifies re-entry intervals and conditions. We tell you what is being applied, where, and how long to stay off the area before the work happens.
When should trees be treated?: Timing is most of the result. Many borer treatments have to go in before the insect is active, dormant oil is applied while the tree is dormant, and several pests have a narrow window when they are vulnerable. Treating at the wrong time often does nothing at all, which is why an assessment comes first.

Need tree feeding & insect control today?

Call us 24/7 or request a free quote online.