Home › Maryland › Martin's Additions

Tree Care in Martin's Additions, MD

Neighborhood street view in Martin's Additions, MD
Montgomery County neighborhood illustration
If you're looking at the trees in your Martin's Additions yard and feeling uneasy, you're not alone. This neighborhood's beautiful, mature canopy is a legacy of the 1940s, but many of those original builder-planted trees are now in their final decades. You'll see this with the silver maples, chosen for their fast growth. They now have weak wood and surface roots that can damage walkways. The Bradford pears, planted for their spring blossoms, are structurally unsound and guaranteed to split. The core issue is that the right tree wasn't always planted in the right place 80 years ago, and those decisions are maturing into liabilities today.

Why Tree Care Matters in Martin's Additions

Professional tree care here is about risk management. With 49 storm events a year on average, your mature trees face constant stress. Wind primarily causes uprooting when our clay soils are saturated from our 48 inches of annual rain. It also targets weak branch unions, like those on Bradford pears or silver maples. You can't see decay inside a tree from the outside. Problems often start internally years before any external symptom appears. A professional assessment uses tools like sounding with a mallet to listen for hollow spots, giving you a true picture of your tree's health and stability before a storm does.

Your Tree's History

The 1940s to 1960s building era defined our landscape. Builders prioritized fast-growing, inexpensive trees for instant curb appeal on new lots. This is why we have so many Norway maples, silver maples, and Bradford pears today. These species were not selected for longevity or structural strength. Now, 80 years later, they are simultaneously reaching the end of their natural lifespan and exhibiting the inherent weaknesses they were bred with. This creates a predictable wave of tree issues across the neighborhood, from splitting trunks to failing root systems.

Zone 7b USDA Hardiness
4A Mixed-Humid
~86 years Avg Tree Age
7 months Growing Season
49 Storm Events/Year

Martin's Additions Climate Profile

Risk Assessment

Growing & Pruning

Tree Services in Martin's Additions

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 Martin's Additions

Sugar Maple - common in Montgomery County, MD

Sugar Maple

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

 Red Oak - common in Montgomery County, MD

Red Oak

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

 White Oak - common in Montgomery County, MD

White Oak

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

 American Beech - common in Montgomery County, MD

American Beech

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

 Eastern White Pine - common in Montgomery County, MD

Eastern White Pine

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

 Tulip Poplar - common in Montgomery County, MD

Tulip Poplar

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

Active Tree Threats in Montgomery County

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) critical

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)

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 Montgomery 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

Oak Wilt - active in Montgomery County, MD

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.

Martin's Additions Tree Data

7b
Hardiness Zone
25.5°F
Jan Avg Low
88.2°F
Jul Avg High
48.5"
Annual Rainfall
5.8"
Annual Snowfall
49
Storm Events/Year
379
Tree & Landscape Companies in Montgomery County
$1,382,100
Median Home Value

Hiring a Tree Service in Martin's Additions

With 379 landscaping companies in Montgomery County, choosing the right one is critical. For tree care, specifically look for a certified arborist. Ask for proof of insurance and their specific plan for your property. A true professional will explain the 'why' behind their recommendations, whether it's a pruning cut to reduce storm load or a removal due to internal decay you can't see. They should be familiar with local threats like Emerald Ash Borer and proper protocols to avoid spreading Oak Wilt.

Nearby Areas We Serve

Chevy Chase Section Three (0mi) Chevy Chase Section Five (0mi) Chevy Chase (1mi) Chevy Chase Village (1mi) Chevy Chase (1mi)

Get Tree Care Quotes in Martin's Additions

Compare ISA-certified arborists serving Martin's Additions and Montgomery County.

Get Free Quotes