![]() 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. ![]() Sweaters are now a million-dollar industry. If you have a sweater that has lasted throughout the year, it likely has been stored in cedar wood. You might be wondering, “Does cedar repel moths?” Yes, it does. The smell of cedar is the scent of a well-known pesticide. Background Even in the time of the Ancient Greeks, humans realized that cedar wood kept the pests away. Humans constructed chests made from cedar. Though, it wasn’t until the 20s and 30s that scientists started to understand what cedar does and how it does it. It is now known that cedar’s pest-repelling power is in the oil that permeates the wood. The oil from specific types of real cedar repels clothes moths from putting their eggs in wool and other fabrics. Mothballs Mothballs, the chemical alternative to cedar oil, are efficient but not recommended. They are true pesticide and can be deadly for anything or anyone (human, moth, pet) who inhales it. The chemicals in mothballs are hazardous and potent. They aren’t worth the risk of exposure for yourself and your loved ones. If moths really are a huge enough issue for you, make sure to keep your attics and closets free of moths. This can be done by continuously vacuuming, up the dust and hair that attracts them. Another Layer of Protection You can help reestablish the cedar’s repellency by slightly sanding the cedar or by putting on a layer of cedar oil. The truth is you shouldn’t put your faith in cedar to stop fabric pests. Having a storage chest that is closely constructed is way more important in keeping clothes moths out than if your wood chest is built from cedar. Call Rochester Tree Care Company to see if you can get a wooden storage chest constructed for you. The heartwood of red cedar has natural oils that aid in killing clothes-moth larvae. Though, this by itself won't shield your clothing. It's not efficient against carpet beetles. With moths, it destroys just young larvae, not eggs or older larvae. Also, the effectiveness fades right along with the scent. In order to keep moths at bay, you need to revitalize the potency of cedar by interchanging cedar chips, sprays, or strips every six months. You can also buy cedar wood trunks and hangers that can safeguard your clothing. ![]() When you chop firewood for commercial or personal use, you might have found some little worms crawling around in the wood. They are really wood grub. There are a lot of various insects that hide inside of trees and lay eggs. Once the larvae emerge, they grow in the wood until they become completely grown insects. The Pacific flatheaded borer is a well-known species of wood boring insects. This is a beetle that has been a big pest in the U.S. and Canada. Wood grubs seek out stressed or weakened trees, burrowing into them. If the tree is little enough, it may only take one borer to destroy the entire tree. Golden Buprestid Beetle Another well-known wood boring beetle is the golden buprestid beetle. These pests are a problem for homeowners and tree owners. They like to burrow into dying or dead wood and might continue to live inside of wood that has been cut down to construct homes. Like other types of wood boring pests, they put their eggs in weakened wood. The larvae feed until they grow into full grown beetles. This specific type remains in its larval stage for years. You may see larvae inside firewood cut from lumber that was chopped years ago. The destruction the golden buprestid beetle creates look like the destruction done by carpenter ants. They leave tiny fecal pellets behind them, creating little tunnels with circular bases. California Root Borer The California root borer is very well-known on the U.S. west coast. This beetle burrows into the roots of trees and puts its eggs there. The larvae tend to burrow upward in the roots. Ultimately, they will pupate close to the soil surface and grows into a reddish-brown beetle. These are just a couple of examples of wood boring insects that may leave pests in the lumber you own as firewood. While they are able of being big pests, odds are they are not responsible for any permanent damage to your tree. However, you must be sure your tree is healthy. An arborist with Rochester Tree Service can do an examination that lets you know if your tree is in good physical shape. ![]() Heart rot disease is a sort of fungus that destroys mature trees and creates rot in the tree’s branches and trunks. The fungus attacks then annihilate a tree’s structure. In time, this makes the tree a safety threat. The damage can at first be undetectable from the outside of the tree. However, you can identify diseased trees by the fruiting bodies on the outer part of the bark. What is Heart Rot Disease? All hardwood trees are predisposed to variations of fungal infections referred to as heart rot tree disease. The fungi produce the “heartwood” in the middle of these trees’ branches or trunks to decay. Causes The fungi producing heart rot can infect practically any tree. However, weak, stressed, and old trees are the most vulnerable. The fungi damage the tree’s hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin, causing the tree to fall probably. At first, you might not be able to detect if your tree has heart rot because the decay is on the inside. Though, if you can see inside the trunk due to an injury or cut to the bark, you might see a rotted spot. Some heart rot types produce fruiting bodies that appear similar to mushrooms, developing on the outside of a tree. These structures are called brackets or conks. Contact an arborist to examine your trees if you suspect they’re infected. You can see them around the root crown or a cut in the tree bark. Some are yearly and only come out with the first rain. Others add a new layer every year. Bacterial Heart Rot The fungi that create heart rot tree disease are usually put into three categories: soft rot, white rot, and brown rot. Brown rot is typically the most severe and creates the rotten wood that dries and breaks into cubes. White rot is less severe, and the rotted wood is spongy and moist. Soft rot is due to bacteria and fungus, developing a condition known as bacterial heart rot. Bacterial heart rot advances slowly and creates the least amount of structural harm in trees. Though they do create decay in lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose in affected trees, the rot doesn’t spread far or fast. ![]() Black canker disease can severely mar trees, particularly willows. Keep reading to learn how to keep your tree healthy and what to do about treating black canker on your willow tree. What is Black Canker? Black canker is produced by a fungus called Glomerella miyabeana. In willows, it’s frequently accompanied by a scab. Leaves that get unevenly shaped spots are an early sign that a tree could be suffering from black canker. The spots emerge in early summer or late spring. However, your tree can appear normal. Tree owners don’t even see the problem at this point, even though infested leaves can dry up. Cankers develop at the point where, as the disease advances, you’ll see cankers where the twigs connect to branches and stems. Cankers can ultimately develop on the main trunk or stem. In the autumn, wounds leak out a pink, velvet-looking, sticky substance that has spores. The spores are moved to various tree parts and nearby trees by insects. The natural resistance of the tree determines the size of the canker. The first year, the canker could be just an inch in diameter on resistant trees or over three inches on predominantly susceptible trees. Every year, the spaces of dead bark around the cankers get bigger. But, the disease won’t kill the tree unless many cankers come together to encircle the trunk entirely. Black Canker Treatment Black canker treatment includes spraying with fungicides and tree pruning. You can’t cure current cankers with fungicide. However, you might be able to stop reinfections. Treat neighboring trees too to prevent them from getting infected. Spraying should be cautiously timed. Consult a Rochester arborist for suggestions on the best time to spray for black canker on trees in your community. Cutting away infested branches and twigs is a critical part of treating black canker disease. Your objective is to get rid of all diseased twigs and leaves. You want to be inspecting for shriveled leaves on dark-colored twigs. When black canker infects a twig, it will have a hook or droop shape at the tip. You can attempt to treat this disease on your own. Though, to be sure that you are removing all of the infested branches, leaves, and twigs, so it doesn’t kill your other plants, it’s best to let a professional tree care company do the job for you. ![]() Trees are a valuable asset that makes your property more beautiful. They offer protection from the wind, pleasant view, and shade. While trees are typically resilient and sturdy, diseases and insects can deliver permanent destruction if left unnoticed. Presently, a satin moth damages trees and is a serious threat. However, it’s a threat that can be prevented and treated with the right care. The satin moth is a frequent insect in the area and typically isn’t a big issue. They feed on Poplar trees, even though they can be seen on oak and willow trees too. They can quickly destroy a tree when they are feeding. Satin Moth Causes Most mature healthy trees can deal with an assault by satin moths with no ill effects. However, specific environmental and climatic conditions are favorable to the pests. This indicates that they’re even more widespread than previously thought. The population of moths has rapidly grown. The issue is that even though a healthy tree can sustain an attack from a satin moth, repeat exposure can create so much harm that the tree can't mend. What to Do Some steps can be taken to stop more damage from occurring. Another effective way of fighting the issue is pressure washing of the tree. This blows the eggs and larvae out of the tree. If you find that your tree has been infested, your local tree care service can visit and take care of this problem for you. Another solution is to put sticky bands on the trunk. This aids in trapping the caterpillars as travel all over the tree to feed. Satin Moths Detection You can identify satin moths by the white and black bands on their legs. The caterpillars are light brown to light gray with a dark head and yellow or white markings all along their backs. Eggs are laid on leaves and can be seen around the trunk and on the ground. For more information on treating trees and stopping damage, call a Rochester arborist. Don’t forget that satin moths can create permanent damage and even kill your trees. ![]() As the weather gets warmer, ticks begin to show up on pets, in outdoor spaces, and even on humans. Sadly, they're not just annoying bugs. Ticks carry Lyme disease as well as other viruses and assorted bacteria types. A tick bite can make you very ill. Below is what you need to know about ticks, where they live and what you can do to not getting bitten. Where the Ticks Are Ticks love moist, humid areas. They are in gardens grassy fields, and woodlands. They can attach to a branch, pet fur, or a blade of grass. Also, ticks can connect to your shoes, hair, and clothing. Even worse, ticks can stick to the skin of an animal or human, feasting on their blood. Stop Tick Bites If you're going on a stroll through some woodlands or even walking down the road next to the woods, you should wear clothes that protect and cover your skin. For example, tuck your pants legs into your boots so ticks can go up your legs. Wear a hat or baseball hat to ticks don’t get into your hair and on your scalp. Protect your arms by wearing a long-sleeve shirt. Also, there are numerous sprays that you can use on your skin to repel ticks. Tick Check-Up Ticks can conceal in numerous spots on your body. When you come home from a walk or time outdoors in a wooded area, look at your feet, legs, and arms. Have a loved one check your scalp and hair for ticks. Luckily, there is a way to eliminate ticks on your skin carefully. Shower and change your clothing when you come back from a walk and don’t forget to wash your dirty clothes in hot water to destroy any ticks you can’t see. Eliminate the Ticks in Your Outdoor Space Ticks love to hide under leaves, in tall grasses, and trees. One of the easiest ways to lessen the number of ticks in your outdoor space is to chop down large grass patches and get rid of tall weeds. If you need assistance contact a tree care professional. ![]() Numerous factors can impair the growth of the maple tree. Below is some information on the different maple tree diseases. Maples are vulnerable to many illnesses brought on my fungus, insects, and pests. Every one of these maple tree diseases develops based on climate conditions and soil. To avoid these diseases, maple tree planting must be performed with the right soil. Here’s a look at the various and most common diseases that usually distress maple trees. Verticillium Wilt – Also known as maple wilt, this mold is a serious and common issue that can kill trees. This illness begins in the roots and works its way up the maple tree, causing dieback and cankers. Indications of maple wilt are diseased branches with sickly leaves and burnt-looking leaves. Sometimes, olive-colored streaks are discovered in the sapwood. This maple tree disease is considered the worst one because it can stay hidden in the soil years before it makes an appearance. Maple wilt gets into a tree through its roots. Anthracnose – This disease causes shoot dieback twig death and extensive defoliation. Typically confused with frost damage, indicators of anthracnose are a canker on the trunk and main branches, purplish-brown spots along the veins of the leaves, and brown spots on leaves. Tar Spot – This disease affects many maple species and creates tar-like, huge spots on the leaves. Asian Long-horned Beetle – This insect harms the sapwood under the bark layer, stopping the tree from accurately transporting water and nutrients. Once a tree has Asian long-horned beetle disease, it will usually die within a year or two. Other maple tree diseases and pests include:
Many of these maple tree diseases weaken a tree and brings about the death of a tree if not treated. If you believe there is an issue with your tree, contact a Rochester tree service company immediately for a tree assessment and treatment options. A Rochester tree specialist can assist in protecting your trees and keeping them disease-free, making your outdoor space healthy and beautiful. |
AuthorRochester Tree Service wants to help you care for the trees on your property. Trees are valuable resources and we want to provide interesting information to you! Archives
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