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RTEC Treecare

RTEC Treecare

Expert Tree Care in the DC Metro Area | Call 703-573-3029 to talk to a Tree Care Expert.

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Prune Now: Or Watch Your Elm Tree Die!

Resources: Tree Problems, Tree Trimming

Dutch elm disease affecting an elm tree.
Dutch elm disease affecting an elm tree.

As the weather in our Nation’s capital is growing colder the opportunity to prune Elm trees is fast approaching. Unlike other species of trees that can be pruned year round the Elm tree typically needs to be pruned during the coldest parts of winter to protect the tree from the deadly Dutch Elm disease*. By pruning during the coldest parts of the season you provide your Elm tree with all the benefits of pruning without the risk of infection.

History of Dutch Elm Disease:

Dutch Elm disease, one of the most destructive shade tree diseases in North America, is caused by a fungus spread by the elm bark beetle.  First reported in the U.S in 1928, the disease is believed to have been brought over from the Netherlands in a shipment of logs.  Out of the 77 million elms in North America in 1930, over 75% had been lost by 1989. To this day, the Elm population across the United States is still battling this toxic disease.

Signs & Symptoms of Dutch Elm Disease:

  • Leaf wilting
  • Curling and yellowing/browning of leaves
  • Premature leaf drop
  • Branch death
  • Death of the tree

Treatment & Preventative Care:

Sadly, there is no cure for Dutch Elm disease once your tree is infected. If infected there are some strategic treatments that can be administered to slow down the progression of the disease; however, prevention is truly the only action to stop Dutch Elm disease. If you have an elm that is not yet infected by Dutch Elm disease our Arborists recommend diligently following a tree health care plan.

A proper health plan for Elm trees would include:

  • Soil management
  • Bio-stimulant treatments
  • Preventative fungicide treatments every 3 years
  • Pruning every 2-5 years during the dormant season
  • A monitoring program

If you are a Canopy Protection Program member with an Elm tree, rest assured you have a customized health plan to prevent the infection and spread of Dutch Elm disease.

*In specific situations based on the recommendation of the Arborist, Elms can be pruned during Spring, Summer, and Fall. In these cases extra precautions are taken to lessen the risk of infection. Precautions used by RTEC include sterilizing pruning instruments, only removing deadwood, and preventative injections.

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Google Reviews

Grey Burkhart
Grey Burkhart
March 29, 2022.
Verified
Very professional review of our requirements and an accurate estimate. Showed up on time and were finished quickly. Cleaned up all of the debris and sawdust. Great job all around.
Dennis Bruns
Dennis Bruns
March 8, 2022.
Verified
We have used RTEC Treecare for several years. They do excellent work. Their staff is extremely knowledgeable and take great care in explaining the various options available for your particular situation. I highly recommend them.
Annette Iannucci
Annette Iannucci
February 23, 2022.
Verified
We have been using RTEC for years and were very pleased with the recent tree maintenance work they did for us. As always, we got good advice from their arborist Ben,. The crew that did the work is highly skilled, and they did a great job trimming our trees. They worked safely and efficiently, in addition to leaving the yard clean after they finished the work.
Susan Crawford
Susan Crawford
January 26, 2022.
Verified
RTEC was at my house today to removed a large Magnolia that was badly damaged by the recent snow. They did a fantastic job at a very reasonable price. They arrived right on time, worked efficiently and quickly and cleaned up so well it was hard to tell anything have been disturbed. Over the past several years, I have used RTEC for all the services I checked above, and have always been very pleased with their service and professionalism. I also appreciate that they are not eager to take down trees that don't need to come down. In this case, the damage was too extensive for the tree to recover.
Kenton Morgan
Kenton Morgan
January 20, 2022.
Verified
Once again, RTEC has done a great job. The team showed up right on time and performed all the work that we agreed to. They kept us informed as to progress, coordinated with us concerning our maple, and made recommendations concerning ongoing support for our trees. At the end of the day, they thoroughly cleaned up the debris and left our yard in pristine condition. WELL DONE.
Jean Kluttz
Jean Kluttz
January 3, 2022.
Verified
Not our first time but this time was tricky removal of a large dead tree leaning on a healthy tree. Quick response for estimate, good timing to removal, all clear and healthy tree still fine.
Jerry Haggin
Jerry Haggin
December 16, 2021.
Verified
Very good work while ensuring that I was aware of status of my work order and planned completion.
Mike Iger
Mike Iger
December 16, 2021.
Verified
David Roberts
David Roberts
December 15, 2021.
Verified
We’ve used RTEC for many years for tree maintenance and can’t say enough good things about their service. We use them for tree trimming and for regular treatments to maintain our trees’ health and deal with pests and prevent disease. Their arborist Ben has been especially helpful with advice. RTEC also been especially helpful in emergency situations, once coming to cable a massive, heritage oak in our yard right before a hurricane was about to hit. Highly recommend.
Travis Larson
Travis Larson
December 10, 2021.
Verified
RTEC did an excellent job onsite of removing dead branches from our 80+ year old trees, and trimming other growth too close to our home.
Google rating score: 4.8 of 5, based on 185 reviews.

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Falls Church, VA 22042

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