Treat the cause before the canopy starts to thin
Drought summers, compacted soil and pests like bronze birch borer stress urban trees. Our PHC program diagnoses and treats the real cause.
How we handle plant health care
Portland's summers have become longer and drier, and many mature trees are showing it: thinning crowns, early leaf drop and needle browning. Plant Health Care starts with diagnosis, including soil tests, pest identification and root collar checks, then builds a plan for the year.
Treatments may include air-spading compacted roots, mulching, deep-root fertilization based on soil test results, and targeted pest or disease control applied by licensed Oregon pesticide applicators only when monitoring shows it is needed.
What's included
Every plant health care job includes the following as standard. No add-on fees for cleanup or haul-away unless listed as optional.
- Diagnostic visit and soil sampling
- Pest and disease identification
- Deep-root fertilization based on soil tests
- Air-spade root collar excavation
- Targeted, licensed treatments when needed
- Seasonal monitoring visits
The process
What happens from the first site visit to the final walk-around, in order.
- 1
Diagnose
Inspect canopy, bark, roots and soil and send samples to the lab.
- 2
Build a plan
A seasonal schedule with only the treatments your trees need.
- 3
Treat
Licensed technicians apply soil care and targeted treatments.
- 4
Monitor
Follow-up visits track results and adjust the plan.
Why homeowners pick Timberline
Diagnosis first
No blanket spraying. Treatment follows real findings.
Licensed applicators
Oregon Department of Agriculture licensed technicians.
Soil-focused
Healthy roots are the most effective long-term fix.
Protects big trees
Cheaper than replacing a mature tree after decline.
They wrote the arborist letter our HOA asked for and explained every finding in plain English. No pressure to remove anything.
What affects the price
Starting at $145 per visit. These are the factors our arborist measures before writing your fixed quote.
Prices shown are sample figures for typical 2026 residential jobs in the Portland metro.
- Number and size of trees
- Treatment volume scales with trunk diameter.
- Program length
- Annual programs cost less per visit than one-offs.
- Lab testing
- Soil and tissue tests are billed at cost.
Related services
Arborist Assessment
ISA TRAQ risk reports, permit letters, construction plans and appraisals.
From $225
Trimming & Pruning
Crown thinning, raising, reduction and deadwood removal to ANSI A300 standards.
From $350
Cabling & Bracing
Dynamic and steel cable systems plus through-bolts for split and heavy limbs.
From $450
Plant Health Care FAQ
Questions we hear on almost every estimate visit.
Common causes include drought stress, root damage and pests. Western redcedar has shown widespread dieback after hot summers. A diagnostic visit identifies the cause.
We favor soil care and targeted products, avoid spraying flowering plants during bloom and give clear re-entry times for every application.
Soil care works over one to two growing seasons. Pest treatments can show results within weeks.
