Protecting Your Trees from Silent Destroyers

In the Dallas–Fort Worth area, wood-boring insects pose a serious risk to the health and longevity of urban trees. These pests can go undetected until it’s too late—causing irreversible internal damage. At Texas Tree Surgeons, our Certified Arborists are experienced in diagnosing, managing, and preventing borer infestations through proactive and science-based care.

Understanding the Threat of Borers

Borers are insects—most commonly beetles and moth larvae—that burrow into the bark and sapwood of trees. These insects fall into two categories:

• Primary invaders, like the Emerald Ash Borer, attack healthy trees and can be fatal.
  
• Secondary invaders, including many long-horned beetles and bark beetles, target trees that are already stressed by drought, disease, or poor site conditions.

Borer damage includes:

• Tunneling that disrupts nutrient and water flow
  
• Girdling of branches or trunks
  
• Sawdust-like frass at entry points
  
• Dieback of shoots, branches, or entire canopies
  
• Visible holes in the bark

Most Common Borers in North Texas

• Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) – Fatal to untreated ash trees
  
• Red Oak Borer – Targets oaks and maples, girdles bark
  
• Flat-headed Borers – Common after transplanting or drought stress
  
• Cottonwood Borer – Affects poplar, willow, and cottonwood
  
• Twig Girdlers & Pruners – Cause branches to drop during fall
  
• Peach Tree Borer & Clear-wing Moths – Affect ornamental and fruit trees

Prevention Is the Best Protection

Because most borers are opportunistic, maintaining overall tree health is the most effective defense.

Here’s how we protect trees in North Texas:

• Choose the Right Trees – Native trees like Live Oak and Cedar Elm are better adapted to local stressors and less likely to attract borers.
  
• Water Wisely – Stress from improper watering is one of the top reasons trees become vulnerable to borers. Use deep, infrequent watering and consider drip irrigation to support root health without overwatering.
• Prune Strategically – Remove dead, broken, or diseased limbs where borers often lay eggs. Prune during cooler months when pests are less active (avoid pruning oaks from Feb–Jun to prevent Oak Wilt).
• Apply Mulch – A 2–4 inch layer of mulch conserves moisture and insulates roots—but keep it away from the trunk to prevent bark rot.
• Monitor for Signs – Check regularly for frass, sap leakage, wilting branches, and exit holes. If caught early, damage can often be mitigated.

Managing Existing Infestations

Once a tree is infested, treatment options become more limited:

• Trunk or soil injections may help in select cases (e.g., EAB in ash trees)
  
• Topical insecticides applied to bark can prevent new attacks but don’t reach larvae inside the wood
  
• Biological controls like parasitic wasps may help in integrated pest plans
  
• Manual removal of larvae from infested wood may be possible with early detection
  
• Note: Systemic insecticides are often ineffective for wood borers, and trunk injections can sometimes cause more damage than benefit.

When to Call the Pros

Urban trees face compounded stress from compacted soil, heat islands, and drought—making regular arborist care essential. A Certified Arborist from Texas Tree Surgeons can assess your tree’s health, identify early signs of borers, and implement tailored solutions.If you have ash trees, Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is a growing concern in North Texas. Without preventative treatment, all untreated ash trees will die within 2–5 years.

Don’t Wait for Damage to Show

By the time external symptoms appear, internal damage from borers is often advanced. That’s why prevention, routine monitoring, and stress management are critical. We offer year-round Tree Health Care programs that include:

• Tree risk assessments
  
• Custom fertilization and soil care
  
• Pest and disease monitoring
  
• Strategic pruning and watering plans

Concerned About Borers in Your Trees?

Schedule a consultation with a Texas Tree Surgeons Certified Arborist today. Let’s build a long-term care plan to keep your trees strong, beautiful, and pest-free.