Tree Care in Highland, MD

Neighborhood street view in Highland, MD — Howard County neighborhood illustration

In Highland, your trees are about 40 years old, the same age as many of the homes built in the mid-1980s. This means your red oaks and sugar maples are entering a mature stage where structural issues become visible. A common problem we see here is branch failure from sustained winds, which are frequent with our 19 annual storm events. When the wind shifts suddenly after blowing from one direction, it fatigues weak branch unions, especially in trees like silver maples that were popular in those decades. Your mature trees are significant assets. We use the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers method to quantify their value, considering their species, size, and condition. A healthy, well-structured white oak in your front yard isn't just beautiful; it's a valuable part of your property that requires informed care.

Why Tree Care Matters in Highland

Professional tree care here is about risk management and preservation. The heavy, clay-rich soils in Howard County hold water. When those 47.5 inches of annual rain saturate the ground, a strong wind event can lead to root plate failure, or uprooting, in vulnerable trees. Proactive pruning removes deadwood and corrects weak branch unions before a storm does it for you. It also protects your investment. Emerald Ash Borer is active in this region, and without a treatment plan, any green ash on your property will be lost. Proper care extends the life and safety of your native trees, like American beech, which are far more valuable and resilient than the problem species often planted decades ago.

Your Tree's History

The landscaping choices from the 1980s and 2000s, when most Highland homes were built, created some of today's tree issues. Developers frequently planted fast-growing species like Norway maple, Bradford pear, and silver maple to give new properties instant curb appeal. Forty years later, these trees are declining. Bradford pears split apart under ice or wind load due to their narrow, weak branch angles. Norway maples are invasive and crowd out native seedlings. The silver maples are now large and often have included bark and decay, making them prone to failure. Understanding this history explains why your mature landscape may need corrective pruning or even replacement.

Zone 7b USDA Hardiness

4A Mixed-Humid

~40 years Avg Tree Age

7 months Growing Season

19 Storm Events/Year

Highland Climate Profile

Risk Assessment

Growing & Pruning

Tree Services in Highland

Tree Removal

Safe removal of dead, dying, hazardous, or unwanted trees

Tree Trimming & Pruning

Professional pruning for health, safety, and appearance

Stump Grinding & Removal

Complete stump removal after tree cutting

Emergency Tree Service

24/7 response for storm damage, fallen trees, and hazardous situations

Tree Health & Disease Treatment

Diagnosis and treatment of tree pests, diseases, and nutrient deficiencies

Common Trees in Highland

Sugar Maple

The iconic fall color tree - brilliant orange/red, shade champion, slow-growing

Red Oak

Fast-growing oak, excellent shade, good fall color, valuable timber

White Oak

Long-lived (300-600 years), wide-spreading, slow-growing, acorn producer

American Beech

Smooth gray bark, golden fall color, shallow roots, colonial root sprouts

Eastern White Pine

Tallest eastern conifer, soft needles, susceptible to white pine weevil

Tulip Poplar

Fast-growing, very tall (80-100ft), tulip-shaped flowers, yellow fall color

Active Tree Threats in Howard County

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) critical

Affects: All ash species (Fraxinus) - green, white, black, blue ash

Metallic green beetle native to Asia. Larvae feed under bark, cutting off water and nutrient transport. Tree dies within 2-5 years of infestation. Has killed hundreds of millions of ash trees in North America since 2002.

What to do: Remove dead standing ash trees immediately - they become brittle hazards within 1-2 years. Preventive trunk injection (emamectin benzoate) can save high-value ash but requires biannual treatment.

Spotted Lanternfly high

Spotted Lanternfly - active in Howard County, MD

Affects: Tree of Heaven (primary host), but feeds on 70+ species including maples, oaks, walnut, willow, birch, grape

Showy planthopper from Asia. Feeds on sap, excretes honeydew that promotes sooty mold. Doesn't usually kill trees directly but weakens them and creates a mess. Major agricultural pest on grapes and orchards.

What to do: Destroy egg masses (gray mud-like patches on any flat surface) October-June. Remove Tree of Heaven from property to eliminate breeding host. Report sightings to state agriculture department.

Oak Wilt high

Affects: Red oak group (red, pin, scarlet, black - usually fatal). White oak group (white, bur, swamp white - slower, sometimes survivable).

Fungal disease (Ceratocystis fagacearum) that clogs water-conducting vessels. Red oaks can die within weeks. Spreads through connected root systems between nearby oaks and via beetles attracted to fresh wounds.

What to do: NEVER prune oaks between April and October - beetles carry the fungus to fresh cuts. If an oak shows sudden wilting/browning, get a certified arborist assessment immediately. Root barriers can prevent spread between adjacent trees.

Highland Tree Data

Hardiness Zone

26.1°F

Jan Avg Low

88.6°F

Jul Avg High

47.5"

Annual Rainfall

Storm Events/Year

121

Tree & Landscape Companies in Howard County

$842,800

Median Home Value

Silt Loam

Soil Type

Hiring a Tree Service in Highland

With 121 landscaping companies in Howard County, choosing the right one is critical. Always verify that a tree care company carries both liability and workers' compensation insurance. Ask if their arborists are certified by the International Society of Arboriculture. For major work like pruning a large red oak or assessing a silver maple near your home, request a written estimate that details the scope of work. A reputable company will explain why a procedure is needed, whether it's a crown cleaning for storm readiness or a root collar excavation for health.

Nearby Areas We Serve

Fulton (3mi) Ashton-Sandy Spring (3mi) Burtonsville (5mi) Spencerville (5mi) Scaggsville (5mi)

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