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H-M-M-M HEMLOCKS

If you are in the Northeast and you have Hemlocks, you are probably familiar with woolly adelgid by now.

We have a few Hemlocks on our property that have been there longer than we have. They have made a beautiful privacy screen. The kids spent many years setting up forts under them and on more than one occasion have easily climbed to the tops and then screamed for help to get down. These trees have been practically maintenance free - feeding and mulching themselves from the normal needle drop every year. They have also supplied us with an abundance of miniature pinecones which have been great for small fingers to attach to small wreaths.

Over the last few years, I've noticed quite an increase in the number of these shiny white insects that are covered with their white, woolly secretions. They are attached right where the needles meet the branch. The bottom branches have been covered and looking droopy. I tend to think the tops are covered as well, but of course the kids have lost interest in climbing up to see and I haven't felt quite that adventurous. For now, we've lopped off these bottom branches. It is best not to use any nitrogen-rich fertilizers, the adelgids like a nitrogen-rich plant. It is ok to apply horticultural oils. As soon as the temps get above 32 degrees the adelgids become active again. It is actually recommended to use a higher concentrate in March than in May. I haven't sprayed yet - we need to get to the tops of those trees for a sufficient spray. We need to do it soon, the damage can take the life of the tree in just a few short years.

I am hoping that as with the devastating gypsy moths, perhaps a virus or some other balance in nature will take it's toll on the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid.

While looking at your Hemlocks, also take a minute to check out your Pines for Sawfly egg sacs. The larvae show up in May and look very much like the needles of the pines. These ugly little caterpillars multiply quickly and can also be very destructive, especially on young Pines (including Mughos). If you can, just pinch out the needles the egg sacs have attached themselves too. Once the larvae have come out, I have used Diatomaceous earth successfully. It is a nontoxic mineral product, mined from fossilized shells. It is a fine powder that cuts soft-bodied insects on a microscopic level causing them to dehydrate. It is important the product actually touches the pests. Later in the season this is the product I will use to get rid of slugs as well. 

4/01/00