
The Importance of Tree Disease Control
Trees can get sick just like us, usually from bugs or fungus. If we don’t treat them, they can get worse, spread their disease and even die. That’s why our trained tree experts are so important. They know how to spot these problems and treat them. This way, your trees get better and the disease doesn’t spread to other trees. So, taking care of tree diseases helps keep all your trees strong and healthy.

What To Expect From Our Tree Disease Treatment Service

Diagnosis
Just like in humans, correctly diagnosing the problem is essential for choosing the right treatment. Our certified arborists have the training and experience to identify a wide range of tree health problems, ranging from tree insect infestation to fungal infection.

Treatment
Our plant health care service uses a holistic approach called integrated pest management, which may include diverse treatments including fungicide sprays, fertilization, insect control, fertilization, mulching, and soil aeration.

Follow-Up And Prevention
Since most tree problems can’t be resolved in a single treatment, or even a single season, our arborists will return to monitor and adjust the treatment during the recovery process. In the case of tree problems that spread easily, like scale insects and pine beetles, we will assess nearby trees for signs of illness and apply preventative treatments as needed.
Why Choose Sox & Freeman
Certified Arborists
At Sox & Freeman we aren’t just a few guys with chainsaws – every one of our crews is led by an ISA-certified arborist. This means that you’re working with tree experts who have the training, education, and experience to diagnose and treat health problems for both native species and ornamentals.
Long-term Relationships
Sox & Freeman has been in business for 75 years and some of our clients have been with us for three generations. Like the trees we work with, we take a long view of the world and prioritize developing long-term relationships over short-term gain.
An Ongoing Commitment to Training
We don’t rest on our laurels and are always training the next generation of arborists. At Sox & Freeman our non-certified crew members are given the time, training, and resources to become certified arborists via our Arborist Development Plan.
Insured For Peace Of Mind
No experienced arborist will say that their profession is without risk – and we’re as experienced as they come. To that end we safeguard both our crews and your property with industry leading insurance and workers compensation plans.
Tree Doctors - We Keep Trees Healthy
We love Columbia for its amazing tree cover and it is always our goal to preserve as many healthy trees as possible. Whether you just want to ensure your trees are growing well or have one you are concerned about, our arborists will help keep your trees healthy.

Trusted By The Midlands for 75 years!
John Wilkinson
First class. We had some work done on a huge, old oak tree that had overgrown our house and had some other issues. The Sox & Freeman team made some (much appreciated) suggestions that balanced the health of the tree with my original request. The difference between a professional & experienced arborist and … me! Everyone on the crew was friendly, courteous, and professional. We’ll definitely be hiring them again for future work. Highly recommend!
Dave Ruddle
I wanted advice on a freshly planted tree and for my aging pear tree. Brandon was on time, friendly, courteous and knowledgeable with good suggestions. When done, I asked what the fee is for an the evaluation, he said nothing. I will be calling them back for any other tree service in the future and strongly recommend them.
Rachel Vidal
Very knowledgeable, professional and courteous team!
They even came back to finish on a later day to accommodated my neighbors’ schedule (since needed to access their yard).
I would definitely use them in future!
KC Eriksson
These guys are arboreal ninjas, wizards with ropes, philosophers of the urban forest. Seriously good work, great client service, and customer education to boot. I’d have ’em come back again just to watch them work, and learn more from these guys. Bonus: not as expensive as I expected.
Sarah Z
Called them at 8 am for a large pecan limb that had cracked and was just hanging there, deciding what to crush…my neighbors fence ( for the 2nd time this yr) or my dogwood. Got a quote by 9, crew was at my house 15 min later. Fair prices, and great customer service.
Why should I work with a certified arborist?
At Sox & Freeman our crews always include an ISA-certified arborist. The International Society of Arboriculture sets standards for arboriculture (tree care) and requires training, testing, and continuing education to qualify for and maintain certification.
Arborists are essentially tree doctors, and are trained to be able to diagnose and treat a wide range of tree illnesses. Sometimes the causes may be obvious – as in the case of certain insect infestations, while other illnesses require a bit more detective work and are often difficult for the untrained to identify.
What causes tree diseases?
Tree diseases are most often caused by insect infestations, fungi, or abiotic factors like excessive soil compaction, root damage, or too much/too little water.
It is not uncommon for tree diseases to come about as a combination of multiple of these factors. When trees are stressed (for example, from being over watered) they may be more susceptible to certain fungal infections or insect attacks.
What areas do you service?
We offer professional tree services across the South Carolina Midlands and the surrounding areas, including Blythewood, Cayce, Chapin, Columbia, Irmo, Lexington, and West Columbia.
We are Located at: 3615 Phillips Street, Columbia, SC 29203
What are signs that my tree might be sick?
Tree diseases are usually noticeable as changes in your tree’s canopy or bark. Symptoms may include:
- Sudden reduction in leaf density
- Rust-like spots or blotches on leaves
- Powdery, white growths on leaves
- Unusual growths on bark or branches
Do you offer organic disease treatments?
In some cases, organic treatment options may be viable. However, we believe that the best way to maintain healthy plants is to use the right amount of the right treatments.
Sometimes ‘artificial’ or synthetic chemicals might be the best and only solution for your tree disease other than complete tree removal. We recognize the importance of maintaining balance in our ecosystem, so when we use pesticides and fungicides we do so carefully and in moderation.