CATERPILLAR CONTROL: SPRAY OR INJECT?

Ada, our plant care expert.

If you have ever looked up into your tree canopy and seen many many holes in your leaves, you have a caterpillar problem. The gypsy moth caterpillar is back and can defoliate all your surrounding trees in a matter of days. This invasive pest and others like the winter moth often target our favorite deciduous trees like maples, oaks, beeches, cherries, and birches. If total defoliation occurs for three years, the tree will likely die and need to be removed.

So, what do residents do about it? Well, most people have their trees sprayed with pesticide. The spray will kill any caterpillars on the trees including eggs and larvae. However, since these critters have multiple generations in a season, oftentimes several sprays are needed in the spring and fall. This method works just fine for people who live in heavily wooded areas and have smaller trees.

In recent years, a new method of control has arisen to help protect our trees from the rising populations of leaf-eating caterpillars. This method has shown amazing protection against leaf-eaters. It’s called trunk injection. That’s right. Plant specialists will directly inject a tree with the pesticide.

Benefits of injection to spray:

It lasts for up to 2 years.

The pesticide goes directly into the tree and stays there.

It works against all leaf-eaters.

What’s eating your trees?

So if you have a number of mature prized trees like old beeches, sugar maples, and oaks, injection is definitely an option to consider. You can directly inoculate your tree against these defoliators and not have to think about caterpillars again for two years.

To get an assessment of which method would be best for you, please give us a call to schedule an at-home consultation.