Tree Health Care & Disease Treatment in West Palm Beach
If you need tree health care or disease treatment in West Palm Beach, our ISA-certified arborists diagnose and treat the diseases and pests that hit South Florida trees hardest. Lethal Bronzing Disease (LBD) on palms, Ganoderma butt rot, laurel wilt on red bay and avocado, ficus whitefly, royal palm bug, and salt-air stress on coastal properties. Free diagnosis visits, treatment programs scaled to your trees and budget.
What's Included
- On-site diagnosis by an ISA-certified arborist
- Lab samples sent for disease confirmation when needed
- Targeted treatment plan (foliar spray, soil drench, trunk injection, or cultural)
- Ongoing health programs for high-value trees (live oaks, magnolias, specimen trees)
- Soil tests and decompaction recommendations
- Honest "treat vs. remove" assessment when trees are too far gone
Common Signs You Need This Service
- Sudden dieback in part of the canopy
- Discolored or wilting leaves outside of normal seasonality
- Lower-frond browning and premature flower drop on palms (Lethal Bronzing signal)
- Conks or shelf fungi at the base of a palm trunk (Ganoderma butt rot)
- Sticky residue and white waxy clumps on ficus leaves (ficus whitefly)
- Wilting upper canopy on red bay or avocado (laurel wilt)
- Sawdust at the base or in bark crevices (ambrosia beetles, borers)
- Slow general decline over multiple seasons
Our Process
Free Diagnostic Visit
Arborist walks the tree, identifies symptoms, confirms diagnosis (lab samples sent if needed).
Treatment Plan
Specific treatment recommended (or honest "this tree is past saving" call). Cost and timeline laid out clearly.
Application
Treatment applied per label rates. Foliar sprays, soil drenches, trunk injections, or cultural changes depending on the diagnosis.
Follow-Up
Most treatments need a follow-up visit 6-12 months later to confirm response and adjust as needed.
Common Treatments
| Issue | Treatment | Typical Cost | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lethal Bronzing Disease | Preventive oxytetracycline trunk injection on healthy palms | $50 – $150 per palm | Every 4 months |
| Ganoderma butt rot | Diagnosis + remove (no proven treatment) | Diagnosis free | — |
| Laurel wilt | Preventive propiconazole injection on healthy red bay / avocado | $200 – $600 per tree | Every 1-2 years |
| Ficus whitefly | Soil drench + foliar | $150 – $400 | 1-2 per year |
| Manganese / iron chlorosis | Deep root feed + micronutrient amendment | $150 – $400 | Annual |
Pricing Factors
- Tree species and value
- Severity of the issue at diagnosis
- Treatment type (foliar < soil drench < trunk injection cost)
- Number of trees
- Whether ongoing program or one-time treatment
Estimate range: Diagnostic visits are free. Treatment costs vary widely. Single applications $150 – $600 per tree, ongoing programs $400 – $1,500 per tree per year for high-value specimens.
West Palm Beach-Specific Context
The big four tree diseases in West Palm Beach: (1) Lethal Bronzing Disease (LBD) on palms — no cure once symptomatic, removal required within months to prevent leafhopper-vectored spread, plus preventive oxytetracycline injections on adjacent healthy palms; (2) Ganoderma butt rot on palms — incurable trunk decay, removal required; (3) laurel wilt on red bay and avocado — vectored by redbay ambrosia beetle, preventive injections available; (4) ficus whitefly causing leaf drop on ficus hedges and banyans — soil drench or systemic injection works. We see all four every week.
Why Choose David Mummerts Tree Service for Tree Health Care & Disease Treatment
Three things every tree-service buyer in West Palm Beach should expect. And most don't get.
Diagnosis Before Treatment
Most "tree treatments" sold by general lawn-care companies don't target the actual problem. We diagnose first. Sometimes lab-confirm. Then treat. No spraying generic fungicide on a tree that doesn't have a fungal problem.
Diagnose first, then treatHonest "Past Saving" Calls
Lethal Bronzing-infected palms can't be cured. Ganoderma-affected palms can't be reversed. Laurel-wilt-symptomatic red bays past a certain stage are gone. We tell you honestly when removal is the right call instead of selling treatments that won't work.
Honest treat-or-remove callsHigh-Value Tree Programs
For heritage live oaks, royal palms, banyans, and other irreplaceable trees, ongoing health programs (annual diagnosis, preventive Lethal Bronzing injections, soil care, micronutrient correction) extend the tree's life by decades. Programs scale to your tree count and budget.
Ongoing programs availableWhat West Palm Beach Homeowners Say
"A massive live oak limb came down across our driveway during a summer storm. They had a crew there in two hours, dealt directly with our adjuster, and our yard was clean by the next day. Calm, professional, and fairly priced."Sarah K.El Cid
"Got three quotes for removing two big slash pines too close to the house. They weren't the cheapest, but they were the only ones who showed me actual insurance certificates and answered every technical question. Worth every dollar."Mike R.Jupiter
"Hired them to do storm-prep pruning on five live oaks and two royal palms before hurricane season. They explained why they wouldn't "hurricane-cut" the palms and what proper pruning actually looks like. We didn't lose a single major limb during Ian."Linda T.Wellington
Frequently Asked Questions
My palm's lower fronds are bronzing and the flowers dropped early. What is it?
That symptom pattern strongly suggests Lethal Bronzing Disease (LBD), a phytoplasma vectored by planthopper insects across South Florida. There's no cure once symptomatic. We recommend removal within months to prevent spread, plus preventive oxytetracycline trunk injections on adjacent healthy palms every 4 months.
Can you treat laurel wilt on my avocado tree?
For preventive use on healthy red bay or avocado, yes. Trunk injection of propiconazole every 1-2 years. Once a tree is symptomatic (rapid wilt of the upper canopy), treatment success drops sharply. Prevention beats treatment.
Why are my ficus leaves sticky with white waxy clumps?
Ficus whitefly. They secrete honeydew which coats lower leaves and ground, and the whitefly itself shrouds the underside of leaves in waxy clusters. Treatable with soil drench (systemic insecticide) or seasonal foliar sprays.
Do you offer ongoing tree health programs?
Yes. For high-value trees, annual diagnostic visits + preventive treatments + soil care extend lifespan dramatically. Programs are quoted per tree and per visit.
Is the diagnostic visit really free?
Yes. Diagnosis is free; you only pay for treatment if you decide to proceed. We'd rather give you an honest assessment and earn your trust.
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Learn more →Ready For Your Free Tree Health Care & Disease Treatment Estimate?
ISA-certified arborists, $2M insured, response within 2 business hours.