Are Your Birch Trees Suffering or Dying? Could be a Bronze Birch Borer Infestation

We've noticed quite a few Birch trees around Seattle beginning to die. Often the top of the tree will dye first, and before you know it, the whole tree looks like it's in decline.

The major culprit: Bronze Birch Borer

Prevention:
- deeply water your Birches once per month in dry weather
- mulch around the roots
- have a professional drench the roots with a pesticide once a year

If your Birch tree shows 30%+ dead, it is unlikely to recover and should be removed.

To read all about this bronze birch borer, check out this well-researched article by Kim Pokorny of The Oregonian:  Birch trees losing ground

Infested Cherry Trees in the Seattle, WA Area

Seattle residents LOVE their cherry trees, from the beautiful pink blossoms that welcome spring each year to the delicious fruit that signals summer. But have you noticed how many cherry trees are looking sickly and dying?

Cherry bark tortrix (CBT), a winged insect, has infested 75% - 80% of the Seattle area cherry trees, according to Washington State Department of Agriculture. 


How does it damage the cherry trees?
The initial larvae feed on the bark and outer sapwood, while the later larvae tunnel between the bark and cambium.

What does it look like on the tree?
Infestations are easily recognized by reddish-orange colored frass accumulations or frass tubes near gallery entrances.

Will CBT kill my cherry tree?
Yes. Along infested sides of the tree, dieback of new and old growth can occur. Indirect damage occurs through the formation of habitats for secondary pests such as bark beetles, fungi, and increasing susceptibility of infested trees to successive years of freezing damage, which can result in the death of the tree.

Can I save my cherry tree?
If you catch the infestation early, yes. Early fall is the most successful time for pesticide applications. Synthetic pyrethroids are the longest-lasting pesticides, but to get an up-to-date list of suggestions, please consult the most recent PNW Insect Management Handbook, your local Cooperative Extension office, or the Hortsense website (http://pep.wsu.edu/hortsense).

If your cherry tree is dead or dying, it needs to be removed. Call Blooma Tree Experts for a free removal estimate: (206) 714-9835.

For more information on CBT, read this WSU report: http://puyallup.wsu.edu/plantclinic/resources/pdf/pls67cherrybarktortrix.pdf

Hemlock Infestation? Act NOW to Save Your Trees

Hemlock woolly adelgid in the Seattle area.

If you've seen little white spots on the tips of your Hemlock branches, your tree has the dreaded hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) Adelges tsugae. 

This insect damages trees quickly and weakens hemlocks, so if you value your hemlocks, you should act to kill the HWA and prevent their spread to other hemlock trees.




Here are 6 steps you can take to protect your hemlocks from HWA and reduce infestation:

- remove dead and dying branches (this pruning can be done by Blooma Tree Experts);
- discourage birds and squirrels from visiting your hemlocks, since they spread HWA;
- during drought, water your Hemlock roots at dripline, slowly, 1" per week;
- do NOT apply nitrogen fertilizer during infestation; after the insects are under control, apply fertilizer;
- direct a water spray to the eggs to help dislodge them; and/or
- apply a pesticide (see the next section).

The "woolly" evidence of HWA infestation

What about pesticides?
According to the US Forest Service, if you want to save an eastern hemlock, you must use chemicals. However, you must be committed to treating your trees for several years--until all trees in the vicinity infested with HWA are dead. You may want to consider the cost and effort of that compared to removing your tree now. You might want to just save a particular hemlock tree or trees that you value.

There are two methods of applying insecticide:
1) thoroughly drench infested trees with horticultural oil, insecticidal soap, or any one of several petrochemical insecticides (this usually is best done by a professional); or
2) in April to May, inject a systemic insecticide, such as imidacloprid or acephate, into the roots of infested hemlocks with a hydraulic injection needle. This works on healthy hemlocks only; if the tree is in decline, the first method will work best. (Call Martin at Blooma for a referral in the Seattle area: 206-714-9835)

A healthy hemlock is a beautiful tree.

An excellent, thorough article about HWA can be found here: http://na.fs.fed.us/fhp/hwa/control/mcclure.pdf

If you live in the Seattle, WA area and need a professional pruning or removal of a hemlock tree, please call Blooma Tree Experts for a free quote: 

(206) 714-9835.