Shrub Disease & Pest Treatment in North Augusta, Aiken, and the CSRA

The on-site diagnosis is free, and treatment is priced by the number and size of the shrubs and the problem involved. A single targeted treatment costs far less than an ongoing program, and Arborwright confirms a shrub actually has a treatable pest or disease first. Some shrubs need nothing more than a cleanup, in which case you are not paying to spray for a problem that is not there.

Boxwood blight is a serious fungal disease that causes dark leaf spots, rapid defoliation, and dark streaks on the stems, and it spreads easily on tools, clothing, and plant debris. It cannot be cured, but it can be managed and contained with the right protocol, sanitation, and fungicide program. Catching it early is critical, because it can move through a boxwood planting quickly.

That is the classic sign of azalea lace bugs, one of the most common shrub pests in the Southeast. They feed on the underside of the leaves, leaving the tops stippled silvery or bronze, and the damage is often mistaken for drought or disease. Control means treating the underside of the leaf at the right point in the lace bug’s lifecycle, not just spraying the top.

A white, powdery coating on the leaves is almost always powdery mildew, a fungal disease that thrives in the humid CSRA climate, especially where airflow is poor. It needs a fungicide, not an insecticide, and often improves with better spacing and pruning for air circulation. An insecticide does nothing for it, which is why the correct diagnosis matters.

First by confirming it is actually a fungus, since spots and discoloration have many causes. A true fungal disease like leaf spot or powdery mildew is treated with a fungicide, timed correctly, and paired with cultural fixes like improving airflow and avoiding overhead watering. The fungicide treats it, but the conditions that let the fungus thrive have to change too, or it returns.

By examining the plant closely, the tops and undersides of the leaves, the stems, and the pattern of damage, because each pest and disease leaves a distinct signature. Lace bugs hide under the leaf, scale crusts the stems, powdery mildew coats the surface, and leaf spot makes defined spots. Plant disease identification is the whole game, since the wrong diagnosis means the wrong treatment.

Those are likely scale insects, which attach to stems and leaves under a protective shell and feed on the plant, often leaving sticky residue and sooty black mold. Scale is controlled with a treatment timed to its vulnerable crawler stage. If the scale is specifically on a crepe myrtle, that is crepe myrtle bark scale, which Arborwright treats on a dedicated page for that pest.

Most spray services treat every shrub on a calendar with a broad product, which misses the real pest and kills beneficial insects. Arborwright diagnoses the specific problem first and treats only what needs treating, with the right product at the right time. Burns Newsome is a Licensed Applicator with two degrees in the biological sciences, so the diagnosis comes before the spray.

The humid climate makes fungal diseases common, including powdery mildew, leaf spot, and boxwood blight, along with insect pests like azalea lace bugs, scale, and spider mites. Leyland cypress, boxwoods, azaleas, and hollies are among the most frequently affected shrubs in the region. The warm, wet conditions that make the CSRA good for growing also favor the pests and diseases that attack shrubs.

Being present for the diagnosis helps so we can show you what we found and confirm the plan, but the treatment itself does not require you to be home if access is arranged in advance. After treatment, follow any simple guidance we leave about watering or keeping pets and children off freshly treated foliage until it dries.