Professional Tree & Shrub Care in Shirlington, Virginia

Late winter to early spring, just before new growth emerges, is the ideal window for hard shaping or major reshaping of boxwoods. Light touch-up trims can continue every 6-8 weeks through early summer. Avoid pruning boxwood in late summer or fall — new growth won't harden off before frost and will die back.

Yes. Pruning at the wrong time can remove next year's flower buds (for spring bloomers), expose tender new growth to frost damage, or stress the plant enough to invite pests and disease. This is the single most common mistake homeowners and unlicensed crews make — timing matters as much as the cut itself.

Our tree and shrub care visits include a health inspection for common Northern Virginia issues — boxwood blight, bagworms, scale, and lace bugs — alongside pruning and deep-root feeding. Trees showing signs of larger structural or disease issues are flagged for a more detailed assessment.

It depends on the plant: spring bloomers like azaleas right after flowering, summer bloomers and most deciduous shrubs in late winter dormancy, evergreens in early summer. We keep the schedule per species so you never lose a bloom year. Our crews work Shirlington regularly, so scheduling is usually available within the week outside the spring rush — and every visit ends with before-and-after photos of the finished work.

Often, if the cause is caught early — many 'dying' ornamentals are treatable stress, pests, or girdling issues. We inspect first, give you a straight answer on what is savable, and never sell treatment for a plant that needs replacing. Our crews work Shirlington regularly, so scheduling is usually available within the week outside the spring rush — and every visit ends with before-and-after photos of the finished work.

Spring bloomers like azalea, forsythia, and lilac flower on "old wood" grown the previous year — prune them within a few weeks after they finish flowering, or you'll cut off next year's buds. Summer bloomers like crape myrtle, butterfly bush, and hydrangea paniculata flower on new growth — prune those in late winter before the growing season starts.

Deep-root watering and feeding injects slow-release liquid fertilizer 6-12 inches into the root zone, well below the surface where most nutrients are lost to runoff or shallow roots. This is especially valuable in Northern Virginia's compacted clay soils, where surface-applied fertilizer often can't reach tree roots effectively. It typically costs $100-$350 per tree depending on size.