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How To Get Rid of Tent Caterpillars in Trees

2/20/2020

Instead of being a threat, tent caterpillars (i.e. tent worms) are more unappealing and a nuisance. Though, there are times when knowing how to get rid of tent caterpillars in trees is necessary. This article looks at how to stop tent caterpillars and how to kill them.

About Tent Worms

Tent caterpillars are very different from fall webworms. Tent caterpillars are active in the springtime while webworms are active in the fall. Tent worms make their nests in the limbs while webworm nests are at the ends of limbs. Also, fall webworms enclose foliage in these nests.

Tent caterpillars do none of this. Tent worms like fruit trees. However, they will nest in willow, maple, and ash trees too. Tent caterpillars never cause big problems. However, big colonies can drastically defoliate trees since they eat the leaves. This typically doesn’t kill trees. The trees usually grow new leaves but might make them more vulnerable to disease and other issues. Tent caterpillars might snack on other plants.

Tent Caterpillar Removal

When tent caterpillar removal is needed, the egg cases or nests can typically be handpicked.

Egg cases can be viewed once leaves drop from trees in the autumn. Bigger nests can be eliminated by putting them around a stick or trimmed out and destroyed. The time to attempt tent caterpillar removal is early evening or morning while they’re still probably in the nest. Introducing natural enemies, like different types of parasitic wasps, can aid in reducing the number of tent worms.

How to Kill Tent Worms

Sometimes eliminating tent caterpillars means killing them. While tiny infestations could be taken care of by putting the nests into soapy, hot water, insecticides work best for bigger populations.

Bacillus thuringiensis is the most efficient. This insecticide kills tent caterpillars while being safe to other wildlife. Put spray right on the tent worm nests and foliage. Getting rid of tent caterpillars is simple if you follow these easy steps. Your trees will go back to their former beauty almost in no time at all. Contact Rochester Tree Care to get more information about eliminating tree caterpillars.

What Kind Of Winter Birds Will You See This Year?

2/6/2020

Backyard birders usually assume that there aren’t any birds around to enjoy during the cold months. But there is nothing that can be further from the truth. In fact, there are numerous winter birds that visit backyards when the snow flies. Backyards are essential for winter birds and deliver much-needed water and food when natural resources are scarce.

Backyards Matter to Winter Birds

In winter, ice and snow hide food right when birds necessitate more calories to remain warm in the bitter cold. In addition, water is changed into frozen ice so birds can’t drink. Dropping temps make birds susceptible to predators and illnesses.

Luckily, a bird-friendly landscape can give can handle a bird's needs even in the winter months. Contact a local tree care company to discover more bird-friendly landscape ideas. In the meantime, read the ones below.

Food:
When insects are inaccessible or dead to feeding birds and nectar-producing flowers are nowhere to be found, winter backyards can be a crucial food source. Higher calorie foods like nuts, suet, and peanut butter are perfect for feeding winter birds, attracting more birds to your yard.

Water:
Frozen water is less helpful to birds since they have to use a lot of energy melting the frozen ice to drink it. Even if birds eat snow, their bodies must create more heat to handle the snow and overpower the cold. A heated bird bath can be vital. Birds will rapidly find and go to such a convenient, easy, and simple liquid water source in winter.

Shelter:
Evergreen trees offer excellent shelter for winter birds. But in places in which deciduous trees have lost their leaves, shelter might not be available. Birds can take shelter in hollow trees, but these spots might be few and far between. Yards that provides winter birds shelter like roost boxes, dense bush piles, or year-round birdhouses will draw more visitors.

Nesting Sites:
Birds do not breed in the wintertime. However, year-round residents stay in the same territories and will swiftly revisit their favorite nesting places when spring comes. Making sure that those sites, including bird nesting shelves or birdhouses, stay suitable and safe can help keep even more backyard birds close by all winter long.

If you need to verify your landscape and tree needs, please contact us at Rochester Tree Care and we will assist you with all your tree care needs.

ROCHESTER TREE SERVICE NEWS & BLOGS

How To Get Rid of Tent Caterpillars in Trees

What Kind Of Winter Birds Will You See This Year?

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