Professional plant disease diagnosis, pest control, and health management for Ellicott City and Howard County. Expert problem-solving since 1986.
Plant problems worsen rapidly if left untreated. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical for saving valuable landscape plants. If you notice yellowing leaves, dead branches, spots, or unusual growth, call immediately for assessment!
Professional diagnosis and treatment in Ellicott City
Call for Plant Health AssessmentLandscape plants face constant threats from diseases, pests, environmental stress, and cultural problems. When plants develop yellowing leaves, dead branches, unusual spots, wilting, stunted growth, or other symptoms, quick and accurate diagnosis is essential. The difference between saving a valuable plant and losing it often comes down to recognizing problems early and implementing appropriate treatment before damage becomes irreversible.
At Greenlawn Inc, we've been diagnosing and treating plant health problems in Ellicott City and Columbia since 1986. Our 39 years of experience with Howard County's landscape plants means we recognize common diseases and pests immediately, understand how Maryland's climate affects plant health, and know which treatments work effectively in our region. We don't guess—we diagnose accurately, recommend appropriate treatments, and follow through to ensure problems are resolved and plants recover.
Many plant problems look similar but require completely different treatments. Yellowing leaves might indicate nutrient deficiency, root disease, drought stress, overwatering, or pest damage. Dead branches could result from winter injury, fungal cankers, borer insects, or mechanical damage. Applying the wrong treatment wastes money and time while the real problem worsens. Professional diagnosis identifies actual causes so treatment addresses root problems, not just symptoms.
Professional plant health care from Greenlawn Inc follows a systematic diagnostic and treatment approach:
We visit your Ellicott City property to examine affected plants thoroughly. We look at symptoms on leaves, stems, and roots; evaluate overall plant vigor; assess environmental conditions like sun exposure, drainage, and soil; check for pest presence; and consider recent weather events and cultural practices. This comprehensive evaluation provides the information needed for accurate diagnosis.
We identify the specific disease, pest, or cultural problem affecting your plants. Our 39 years of experience with Howard County landscapes means we recognize common issues immediately—boxwood blight, scale insects on hollies, winter injury on azaleas, chlorosis from alkaline soils, and dozens of other problems that affect Ellicott City plants. For unusual problems, we can collect samples for laboratory analysis to ensure accurate identification.
Once we've identified the problem, we recommend appropriate treatment. This might include targeted pesticide applications for diseases or insects, cultural practice changes to address environmental issues, fertilization or soil amendment for nutrient problems, or in severe cases, plant removal and replacement. We explain what caused the problem, what treatment involves, expected results, and cost. You make informed decisions based on complete information.
If you approve treatment, our MDA-licensed crews (Pesticide License #23902) apply appropriate products using professional equipment and techniques. We use targeted treatments that address specific problems while minimizing impact on beneficial organisms and the environment. Timing is critical for many treatments—we schedule applications at optimal times for maximum effectiveness based on pest life cycles, disease development patterns, and plant growth stages.
After treatment, we monitor results and provide guidance on preventing future problems. Some issues require multiple treatments or ongoing preventative programs. We develop long-term plant health care plans that keep your Ellicott City landscape healthy and minimize future problems. Prevention is always more effective and less expensive than dealing with severe problems after they develop.
Our experience serving Ellicott City and Columbia has taught us which plant health problems are most common in Howard County landscapes:
This devastating fungal disease has spread throughout Maryland in recent years. Boxwood blight causes rapid leaf drop, stem dieback, and can kill entire boxwood plantings. Early symptoms include dark leaf spots and stem lesions. Once established, boxwood blight is nearly impossible to eradicate. Early diagnosis is critical—if we identify boxwood blight early, aggressive sanitation and treatment can sometimes slow progression. For severely infected plantings, removal and replacement with blight-resistant varieties or alternative plants is necessary.
Scale insects are common pests on hollies, euonymus, magnolias, and many other Howard County landscape plants. These tiny insects attach to stems and leaves, sucking plant juices and weakening plants. Heavy infestations cause yellowing, stunted growth, and branch dieback. Scale insects produce sticky honeydew that attracts sooty mold, creating black coating on leaves. Treatment requires properly timed applications of horticultural oils or systemic insecticides when vulnerable crawler stage is active.
Maryland winters can severely damage broadleaf evergreens like azaleas, rhododendrons, hollies, and boxwood. Winter injury appears as brown, scorched foliage in spring. This results from desiccation (plants lose water through leaves faster than frozen roots can replace it) or outright freeze damage. While winter injury often looks devastating, many plants recover if dead foliage is pruned away and plants receive proper care. We assess damage severity and recommend pruning, fertilization, and watering to promote recovery.
Various fungal and bacterial leaf spot diseases affect Howard County landscape plants. Symptoms include circular or irregular spots on leaves, often with yellow halos. Severe infections cause defoliation and weaken plants. Many leaf spot diseases are primarily aesthetic issues that don't threaten plant survival, while others require treatment. We identify specific pathogens and recommend appropriate fungicide programs when treatment is warranted.
These tiny arachnids cause stippling and bronzing on evergreens, especially during hot, dry periods. Spider mites are particularly problematic on arborvitae, junipers, and spruces in Ellicott City landscapes. Heavy infestations cause severe discoloration and can kill branches. Treatment requires miticides applied at proper timing and coverage.
Many Howard County soils are alkaline, which limits iron availability to plants. Acid-loving plants like azaleas, rhododendrons, and blueberries develop chlorosis—yellowing leaves with green veins. This isn't a disease but a nutritional problem requiring soil acidification and iron supplementation. We diagnose chlorosis accurately and implement treatment programs that restore healthy green foliage.
While we excel at diagnosing and treating problems after they appear, prevention is always preferable. Preventative plant health care programs protect valuable landscape plants before problems develop:
We inspect your Ellicott City landscape plants regularly throughout the growing season, identifying potential problems in early stages when treatment is most effective. Many issues that become severe problems if ignored are easily managed when caught early.
For plants susceptible to specific problems, preventative treatments stop issues before they start. This might include dormant oil applications to control overwintering pests, preventative fungicide programs for disease-prone plants, or regular anti-desiccant sprays to protect broadleaf evergreens through winter.
Many plant health problems result from improper care—wrong watering, poor drainage, inadequate fertilization, improper pruning, or plants in wrong locations. Our plant health care programs include guidance on cultural practices that keep plants healthy and stress-free, making them naturally resistant to pests and diseases.
Well-nourished plants resist problems better than stressed, undernourished plants. We develop fertilization programs tailored to your landscape plants' needs, ensuring they receive proper nutrition throughout the growing season.
Early diagnosis and treatment save plants and money
Call Now for AssessmentProfessional diagnosis identifies real problems, not just visible symptoms. This ensures treatment addresses actual causes and produces effective results. Misdiagnosis leads to wasted money on ineffective treatments while problems worsen.
Different problems require different treatments. Our experience means we select appropriate products, application methods, and timing for each specific issue. We also understand which problems require treatment versus which are primarily aesthetic and may not warrant intervention.
Pesticide treatments require proper equipment, techniques, and safety precautions. Our MDA-licensed crews have training and equipment to apply products safely and effectively. We achieve thorough coverage, proper concentrations, and safe handling that DIY applications often lack.
Mature landscape plants represent significant investments—replacement costs for large shrubs and trees can run hundreds or thousands of dollars. Professional plant health care protects these investments by keeping plants healthy and saving them when problems develop.
Healthy plants enhance property value, provide environmental benefits, and create beautiful outdoor spaces. Professional plant health care ensures your Ellicott City landscape remains an asset rather than becoming a source of frustration and expense.
Call for professional assessment if you notice any of these symptoms: leaves turning yellow, brown, or developing spots; branches dying back; unusual growth patterns; wilting despite adequate water; insects or webbing on foliage; sticky residue on leaves; sudden leaf drop; stunted growth; or anything that just looks "wrong" to you. Early intervention is critical—plants are much easier to save when problems are caught early. Even if symptoms seem minor, it's worth getting professional evaluation. A quick consultation can prevent small problems from becoming plant-threatening crises. We'd rather assess a plant and find it's healthy than have you wait until problems become severe and irreversible.
It depends on the specific problem and how advanced it is. Many plant health issues are manageable if caught early. Scale insects, spider mites, and many fungal diseases respond well to treatment when addressed promptly. Some problems like boxwood blight are extremely difficult to control once established. Winter injury often looks devastating but many plants recover with proper pruning and care. Cultural problems like nutrient deficiencies are usually correctable. During assessment, we'll honestly evaluate whether plants can be saved, what treatment involves, expected results, and costs. Sometimes removal and replacement is the most practical solution, especially for severely diseased plants that threaten healthy neighbors.
Yes, when applied properly by licensed professionals. Our MDA Pesticide License #23902 requires training in safe application practices, proper product selection, and environmental protection. We use targeted treatments that address specific problems while minimizing broader impacts. Many plant health care products have minimal toxicity and short re-entry intervals. We provide clear instructions about any post-treatment precautions. Some treatments like horticultural oils and insecticidal soaps are very low-impact. We also emphasize cultural controls and prevention to minimize pesticide use. When treatments are needed, we select products carefully, apply them properly, and follow all label requirements and safety guidelines.
Costs vary widely based on problem severity, number of affected plants, treatment required, and property size. Simple issues like treating a single shrub for scale might cost $75-150. Comprehensive preventative programs for entire landscapes run higher. Major problems requiring multiple treatments over seasons cost more than one-time interventions. During our assessment, we provide detailed cost estimates before any treatment begins. Many homeowners find that investing in prevention or early treatment is far more cost-effective than dealing with severe problems later or replacing dead plants. Consider that replacing a mature shrub can cost $200-500+ while treatment to save it often costs significantly less.
Many do, yes. Diseases spread through spores carried by wind, water splash, or contaminated tools. Insect pests move from plant to plant seeking food. This is why early treatment is so important—addressing problems on one plant prevents spread to healthy neighbors. Some issues like boxwood blight are highly contagious and can devastate entire plantings. Others like scale insects spread more slowly but eventually infest adjacent plants. Cultural problems like nutrient deficiencies don't spread but often affect multiple plants in the same area due to shared soil conditions. During assessment, we evaluate whether nearby plants are at risk and recommend protective treatments when appropriate.
Absolutely. If we determine that plants need replacement due to severe disease or other problems, we can recommend alternatives that are more resistant to issues common in Ellicott City landscapes. For example, if boxwood blight has killed your boxwood, we can suggest blight-resistant varieties or alternative plants like Japanese holly or inkberry that fill similar landscape roles without boxwood's disease problems. Our 39 years of experience with Howard County landscapes means we know which plants perform reliably here and which are prone to problems. We're happy to provide replanting consultation and can handle professional installation of replacement plants.
Don't let plant health problems destroy your valuable Ellicott City landscape. Professional diagnosis and treatment from Greenlawn Inc can save plants, prevent problem spread, and restore your landscape's beauty and health. Our 39 years of experience diagnosing and treating plant problems in Howard County means we've seen virtually every issue that affects local landscapes—and we know how to solve them.
As MDA-licensed professionals (Pesticide License #23902), we have the expertise, products, and equipment to deliver effective results safely and responsibly. Whether you're dealing with a current problem that needs immediate attention or want to implement preventative programs that protect plants before issues develop, we provide complete plant health care services tailored to your Ellicott City property's specific needs.
Professional plant health care for Ellicott City landscapes
Call to Schedule Assessment
Trusted by Howard County families since 1986
Family Owned • Expert Diagnosis • Effective Treatment
About Greenlawn Inc: Since 1986, Greenlawn Inc has provided expert plant health care services to homeowners throughout Ellicott City, Columbia, and Howard County, Maryland. Our MDA-licensed team specializes in accurate disease and pest diagnosis, targeted treatment programs, and preventative care that keeps landscape plants healthy and beautiful. We combine decades of local experience with professional products and techniques to solve plant health problems effectively.