FALL NEWS 2016

Your Plant Health Care Renewal Program for 2017 will be mailed late December . Please take a moment to review your program and call us to go over any questions you may have .

You will see that we have evaluated each property for existing and new issues , and have taken into account any evidence of hardship due to drought conditions that our area has experienced over the last few years and how it has impacted your landscape . You may see some new or different recommendations on your program resulting from our evaluations . We ’ ll be happy to review them with you to make sure that the program addresses all of your concerns and plant needs .

Need more help ?

If you want to discuss your program before anything is scheduled , call our office and one of our plant health care specialists will be in touch as soon as possible .

QUESTION – Who will be the uninvited guest next year at your outdoor parties ? Who can make it sound like it is raining outside even in a drought ? ANSWER – The Gypsy moth ! From eggs ( now ) to caterpillars next spring and summer !

For many years the Gypsy moth caterpillar population has been under control . Mother Nature has helped her trees by providing them with our typical wet springs and generous summer rains . This moisture has kept the virus that attacks the GMC active and the virus kept the GMC in check . The recent dry springs and summers have given the GMC free rein to crawl rampant , eating their way through our landscapes and forests , and multiply .

All the eggs are tucked away in fuzzy tan masses waiting for the warmth of spring to hatch out . We have our fingers crossed that we will have a damp spring to activate the virus . Even with the virus attacking the caterpillars , it will not knock the population down until after they have done most of their damage . The gypsy moth has favorite trees to dine on , but it is not fussy . It ’ s first choice would be oaks , followed by maples , birches , elms , willows and apples . If the infestation is heavy enough almost all shrubs and trees will be devoured by the GMC .

All of the trees in this area suffered from the drought this year . Drought damage followed by defoliation may be more than some the trees can handle . Healthy trees can usually survive one complete defoliation . Weakened trees may succumb with the loss of their food producing foliage .

What can be done ? Aside from searching out all the egg masses on your trees , stone walls , houses and wood piles and scraping them into hot soapy water , the most effective control would be with a the application of an environmentally sensitive product application to your trees . Our arborists can advise you on the timing and coverage that you would be best for your property . We will be monitoring the degree days which determine when the eggs actually hatch . This will allow our Plant Health Care department to be in your neighborhood prior to the GMC ’ s damage .

Gypsy moth egg masses on base of Oak tree in Holliston , MA .