🌡️ Reno Trees Are Under Summer Stress
Summer in Northern Nevada is tough on trees — and it’s not just the heat. The rising temperatures and dry soil weaken natural defenses, opening the door to aggressive pests and fast-spreading diseases. And in Reno-Sparks, some of the worst culprits are already active.
If you’ve noticed browning leaves, branch dieback, or sap oozing from your trees, you may be looking at more than drought stress. Here are the top 5 threats we’re seeing in the field this summer — and what to do about them.
📞 Don’t wait for it to get worse — call (775) 352-4241 to schedule a free inspection.
1. 🐞 Bark Beetles
These tiny beetles burrow through bark to lay eggs, cutting off nutrient flow and weakening your tree from the inside out.
Common Hosts: Pinyon pine, Jeffrey pine, lodgepole pine
Signs to Watch For:
- Reddish sawdust near the trunk
- Pitch tubes (sap blobs) on the bark
- Sudden branch dieback
📞 Bark beetles can kill trees in months. Call (775) 352-4241 for early intervention.
2. 🌿 Aphid Infestations
Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that feed on sap and excrete sticky honeydew, attracting mold and pests.
Common Hosts: Maple, ash, cottonwood, ornamental fruit trees
Signs to Watch For:
- Sticky leaves or patio surfaces
- Curled, deformed new growth
- Presence of ants farming the aphids
📞 Sticky leaves? It could be aphids. Call (775) 352-4241 for a pest control evaluation.
3. 🌳 Invasive Shot Hole Borer (ISHB)
This invasive pest drills into the trunk and introduces a fungus that kills tree tissue. It’s not widespread yet in Reno — but we’re monitoring signs closely.
Common Hosts: Box elder, willow, sycamore, fruit trees
Signs to Watch For:
- Tiny uniform holes in bark
- Gumming or weeping sap
- Dark staining around entry points
📞 Think you’ve seen borer damage? Get a professional opinion — call (775) 352-4241.
4. 🔥 Fire Blight
This bacterial disease scorches trees — literally. It makes branches look like they’ve been burned.
Common Hosts: Pear, apple, crabapple
Signs to Watch For:
- Blackened shoot tips in a “shepherd’s crook” shape
- Dieback in spring or early summer
- Blighted blossoms or fruit
📞 Early pruning and PHC treatments can stop fire blight. Call (775) 352-4241 to assess.
5. 🍂 Leaf Spot Fungi
These fungal infections show up as irregular brown or black spots on leaves and can cause premature leaf drop.
Common Hosts: Ash, maple, sycamore, cottonwood
Signs to Watch For:
- Spotting between leaf veins
- Yellowing or thinning canopy
- Early leaf drop in mid to late summer
📞 Fungal issues now can weaken trees for fall. Schedule a free inspection at (775) 352-4241.
🛠️ What You Can Do
Most summer tree issues in Reno–Sparks are treatable — but only if caught early. Here’s what we recommend:
- ✅ Schedule a professional tree inspection to confirm the issue
- ✅ Remove infested or diseased limbs promptly
- ✅ Improve watering consistency to reduce stress
- ✅ Start a preventive plant health care program
Our team of ISA-certified arborists provides detailed pest & disease assessments and custom treatment plans for local trees.
📞 Call Now for a Free Inspection
If you’re seeing signs of damage — or just want peace of mind — now is the time to act. We’re here to help you protect your landscape from summer threats before they become long-term losses.
📞 Call American Arborists today at (775) 352-4241
🌐 Or request service online.
Trees don’t complain — they decline. Catch the signs early and stop the spread.