Longtree Tree Service, a certified arborist-led tree and shrub care company serving Southeast Michigan since 2019, is expanding its box tree moth (BTM) treatment services throughout Farmington Hills and Southfield — two Oakland County communities that fall squarely within Michigan's active quarantine zone.
The move reflects a direct response to escalating reports of boxwood defoliation across Oakland County neighborhoods and represents a natural extension of the company's longstanding work protecting residential and commercial landscapes throughout the region. Longtree has operated across Southeast Michigan for years, managing everything from routine pruning to complex crane-assisted tree removal, and now the same team is channeling that expertise into a coordinated, community-wide response to one of the most aggressive invasive pests Michigan has seen in decades.
To help residents understand what they're up against, Longtree recently published A Michigan Homeowner's Guide to Box Moth, a comprehensive resource covering the insect's biology, the boxwood species most at risk, and the full spectrum of treatment options, from biological controls like Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Btk) to targeted chemical insecticides.
Why It Matters Now
Box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis) has decimated nearly 75% of boxwoods across parts of Europe since its accidental introduction there in 2007. It arrived in North America in 2018 and has since established itself in Michigan, prompting the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) to institute a quarantine zone spanning 13 Southeast Michigan counties, including Oakland, home to both Farmington Hills and Southfield. For homeowners in these cities, the threat is no longer theoretical.
"We've watched this pest move through the region faster than most people expected. The homeowners we talk to in Farmington Hills and Southfield are genuinely worried about losing hedges they've maintained for decades, and rightly so. Our job is to get in front of it with the right treatments at the right time, not after the damage is done."
— Kyle Phillips, Longtree Tree Service
What Longtree's Box Moth Services Deliver
Longtree's certified arborists bring structured, science-backed treatment to Farmington Hills and Southfield properties, from first inspection through full recovery. Key technical benefits include:
Early-Detection Monitoring: Structured inspections timed to the box moth's three annual flight windows, targeting infestations at the larval stage when Btk is most effective and least disruptive to beneficial insects.
IPM Treatment Plans: Multi-layered strategies that balance efficacy with landscape integrity, prioritizing biological controls and precision applications over broad-spectrum chemicals.
Quarantine-Safe Removal: Boxwood removal managed in strict accordance with MDARD regulations, including double-bagging and proper disposal to prevent further spread.
Replanting Guidance: Certified arborists advise on resistant alternative species and replanting strategies that restore curb appeal and reduce future vulnerability.
Farmington Hills and Southfield homeowners who have noticed defoliation, silken webbing, or lime-green caterpillars on their boxwood shrubs are encouraged to schedule a free on-site evaluation at longtree.net or by calling (248) 290-9417. Early intervention remains the single most effective way to preserve boxwood plantings this season and beyond.
About Longtree Tree Service
Founded in 2019, Longtree Tree Service is a certified arborist-led tree and shrub care company serving Southeast Michigan homeowners and businesses across Oakland, Wayne, and Macomb counties. With deep roots in the region's residential landscape community, Longtree provides tree removal, pruning, stump grinding, plant health care, and integrated pest management services. To learn more or request a free estimate, visit longtree.net or call (248) 290-9417.
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Media Contact
Company: Longtree Tree Service
Contact: Kyle Phillips
Address: 23800 Eight Mile W, Southfield, MI 48033
Email: kyle@longtree.net
Phone: (248) 290-9417
Website: longtree.net
newsroom: news.38digitalmarket.com
Published by: Randy Rohde