APPLE MAGGOT
Which Trees are Affected?
Apple Maggot targets fruit trees, particularly apple and pear trees.
What It Is:
Apple Maggot is a small fly whose larvae feed on the fruit, rendering it unfit for consumption.
Where to Look for It on the Tree:
Check for puncture marks or dimples on the fruit surface, indicating larval infestation.
Why It Happens:
Adult flies lay eggs in developing fruit, leading to the infestation of larvae.
How to Stop It:
Use physical barriers like fine mesh nets to protect developing fruit.
Apply pesticides according to the recommended schedule to control fly populations. Available at Cheyenne Tree Farms.
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ASH LEAF CONE ROLLER CATERPILLAR
Which Trees are Affected?
The Ash Leaf Cone Roller Caterpillar primarily affects ash trees, including species like white ash and green ash.
What It Is:
The Ash Leaf Cone Roller Caterpillar is the larval stage of a moth species, which rolls ash tree leaves to create protective shelters while feeding.
Where to Look for It on the Tree:
Inspect the leaves of ash trees for rolled or folded leaves, particularly during the spring and early summer months. Look for small caterpillars within the rolled leaves.
Why It Happens:
Female moths lay eggs on ash tree leaves, and upon hatching, the caterpillars feed on the leaves. To protect themselves from predators and harsh weather, they roll the leaves into cone-shaped shelters.
How to Stop It:
Handpick and destroy rolled leaves containing caterpillars to reduce their numbers.
Prune and remove heavily infested branches to minimize caterpillar populations.
Apply biological controls such as Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) or insecticidal soaps to caterpillars when they are young and actively feeding. Available at Cheyenne Tree Farms. Encourage natural predators such as birds and parasitic wasps, which feed on caterpillars and help control their populations.
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BLACK KNOT
Which Trees are Affected?
Black Knot primarily affects fruit trees such as cherry, plum, and apricot.
What It Is:
Black Knot is a fungal disease characterized by dark, elongated swellings on branches.
Where to Look for It on the Tree:
Look for black, rough swellings on branches, often resembling burnt marshmallows.
Why It Happens:
Fungal spores spread through wind and rain, infecting susceptible trees, especially during wet and humid conditions.
How to Stop It:
Prune infected branches during the dormant season.
Dispose of infected branches properly to prevent further spread.
Apply fungicides preventively to protect healthy branches. Available at Cheyenne Tree Farms.
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CEDAR APPLE RUST
Which Trees are Affected?
Cedar Apple Rust affects both apple and cedar trees, as well as other members of the Rosaceae family such as crabapple and hawthorn.
What It Is:
Cedar Apple Rust is a fungal disease caused by the fungus Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae.
Where to Look for It on the Tree:
On cedar trees, look for brown galls or growths, especially in wet conditions. Look for bright orange or yellowish spots on the upper surface of apple leaves.
Why It Happens:
The disease spreads when fungal spores from cedar trees infect apple trees during wet weather conditions.
How to Stop It:
Prune cedar trees to remove galls or growths during dry weather in late winter or early spring.
Apply fungicides to apple trees preventively during wet seasons. Available at Cheyenne Tree Farms.
Plant resistant varieties of apple trees to reduce susceptibility to the disease.
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COTTONY PSYLLID
Which Trees are Affected?
Cottony Psyllid can affect various trees, including citrus and ornamental plants.
What It Is:
Cottony Psyllid is an insect that produces a cotton-like substance on leaves and stems, sucking sap from the tree.
Where to Look for It on the Tree:
Inspect for cottony masses on the undersides of leaves or along branches.
Why It Happens:
These insects feed on tree sap, weakening the tree’s overall health.
How to Stop It:
Regularly inspect trees and manually remove cottony masses.
Apply insecticidal soaps or oils to control psyllid populations. Available at Cheyenne Tree Farms.
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FIRE BLIGHT
Which Trees are Affected?
Fire Blight commonly affects fruit trees like apple, pear, and quince.
What It Is:
Fire Blight is a bacterial infection that causes wilting, blackening, and scorched appearance of leaves and branches.
Where to Look for It on the Tree:
Observe for wilting, blackening, or cankers on branches, often resembling a scorched appearance.
Why It Happens:
Bacteria enter through wounds or natural openings, thriving in warm, humid conditions.
How to Stop It:
Prune infected branches promptly, ensuring to sterilize tools between cuts.
Apply copper-based fungicides during the growing season as a preventive measure. Available at Cheyenne Tree Farms.
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RED LILY BEETLE
Which Plants are Affected?
The Red Lily Beetle targets lilies, including Asiatic and Oriental lily varieties.
What It Is:
The Red Lily Beetle is a bright red beetle with black legs and antennae, whose larvae feed on lily foliage and flowers.
Where to Look for It on the Plant:
Inspect the foliage and flowers of lilies for adult beetles, which may be bright red and about 6 to 9 millimeters long. Look for reddish-brown larvae and their dark-colored excrement on the underside of leaves.
Why It Happens:
Adult beetles emerge in spring and lay eggs on lily leaves. The larvae hatch and feed voraciously on lily foliage, causing damage and potentially defoliation.
How to Stop It:
Handpick adult beetles and larvae from affected plants and dispose of them properly.
Use floating row covers to protect lilies from beetle infestation, especially during the spring when adult beetles are active.
Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil to foliage as a natural control measure. Available at Cheyenne Tree Farms.
Encourage natural predators such as ladybugs and ground beetles, which feed on Red Lily Beetle eggs and larvae.
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YELLOWHEADED SPRUCE SAWFLY
Which Trees are Affected?
Yellowheaded Spruce Sawfly primarily targets spruce trees, including species like Colorado blue spruce and Norway spruce.
What It Is:
Yellowheaded Spruce Sawfly is an insect that feeds on the needles of spruce trees during its larval stage.
Where to Look for It on the Tree:
Inspect the needles of spruce trees for clusters of sawfly larvae, which are greenish-yellow with black heads.
Why It Happens:
Female sawflies lay eggs on the needles of spruce trees, and the larvae hatch and feed on the needles, causing defoliation.
How to Stop It:
Monitor trees regularly for early signs of infestation, especially in late spring and early summer.
Prune and remove heavily infested branches to reduce sawfly populations.
Apply insecticidal sprays or biological controls, such as predatory insects, to manage sawfly larvae.
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DORMANT SPRAY
With our early spring and the buds of plants getting ready to open, early spring is the time to consider using a Dormant Spray. Available at Cheyenne Tree Farms. Combine Horticulture Oil and Lime Sulphur to kill overwintering insects (such as scale and mites), insect eggs, and diseases on certain hardy landscape plants.
Apply this combination spray in early spring before leaf buds show green. Applying the spray at the incorrect time can burn leaf buds that have started to swell or show any sign of green.
Use dormant oil on fruit trees, roses, ornamental shrubs like Highbush Cranberry, Cotoneaster and Cranberry, evergreens like Cedars, and trees like Hawthorn and Crab Apple and Apple. Do not use a dormant spray on Butternut or Colorado Blue Spruce.
Choose a warm day (above 5°C) from March to April. Spray early in the morning so the plant will be completely dry by evening. Do not spray if there is any chance of frost overnight. It is also best to spray when there is no or minimal wind.
Mix Lime Sulphur and Horticulture Oil (available together as a Dormant Spray Kit) according to the package directions in a hose-end sprayer that attaches to your garden hose or in a 1- or 2-gallon tank sprayer.
In all cases, spray the plant starting at the top until it begins to drip off the branches. If you spray from the bottom, you will run out of product before the job’s done.
For roses, be sure to spray the soil around the base of the plant to control Powdery Mildew and Black Spot.
Only mix what you can use. You cannot save the prepared solution for later use.
Wear protective clothing and anti-splash goggles. Wash hands and face after use.
Do not let any mixture fall or drift onto hard surfaces; it may leave a permanent stain. Cover the area with plastic to avoid staining.
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DAMAGE BY RABBITS, MICE OR VOLES
Unfortunately, rabbits, mice, and voles do not enjoy prolonged snow and will go looking for food. They enjoy eating the bark on the trees. If they have eaten around the entire trunk of your tree, it may not survive. The bark and transplant tissue (phloem) which carries the nutrients from the leaves to the roots, have been damaged. One method to save your tree is by applying Lac Balsam to the area. Available at Cheyenne Tree Farms. It works like a rubber skin and seals the cambium on the tree so the nutrients can flow again.
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ANTS
Ants are among the most common nuisance pests in Alberta. They are social insects that thrive in organized colonies. These colonies primarily consist of workers (wingless sterile females) responsible for maintaining the nest, gathering food, and caring for the queen’s eggs and larvae. During the spring or fall, ant colonies may produce winged males and females known as swarmers, which disperse to establish new nests and colonies. Ants become problematic when they construct numerous mounds in lawns and invade homes in search of food. Carpenter ants, in particular, pose a threat by causing structural damage as they hollow out wooden supports during nesting. Additionally, ants can damage vegetation by disturbing plant roots through burrowing and maintaining pests such as aphids for their sweet excretions (honeydew).
Ant In Lawns
Soil-nesting ants create small hills by moving soil to the surface from their nests below. These hills can multiply and become unsightly, resulting in uneven turf.
Control
Regularly flattening ant hills with raking may reduce their activity. You can also spot-treat ant hills with insecticide, available at Cheyenne Tree Farms. Follow the instructions on the insecticide for optimal results, and ensure children and pets stay away from treated areas until the grass and soil have dried.
Ants in the House
Ants often invade homes in search of food. Here are some non-toxic solutions to prevent these insects from entering your house:
Keep floors, counters, and pet feeding areas clean and free of food.
Follow ant trails to identify their entry points.
Wash ant trails with soapy water.
Seal up openings where ants enter the house using temporary fixes like Vaseline and duct tape.
Ant baits can also be used, available at Cheyenne Tree Farms. Ensure baits are placed away from children and pets due to their poisonous nature.
Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants are prevalent in Alberta and are notoriously challenging to control. During spring, winged swarmers may appear inside homes and around buildings. A pile of sawdust is a telltale sign of a colony nesting within a structure. Probing wood with a sharp instrument can expose excavated galleries, aiding in nest detection. Carpenter ants nest in both dry and moist wood but prefer a moist environment, often nesting near sinks, bathrooms, kitchens, door frames, poorly sealed windows, or areas dampened by water leaks.
Control
The most effective method to control carpenter ants is to locate and destroy nests. “In wall” nests can be managed by carefully drilling small holes and puffing boric acid powder into each hole. Avoid using chemical insecticides. Homeowners can take preventive measures to minimize carpenter ant problems:
Fix leaks and other moisture issues to deter carpenter ants.
Keep firewood stacked away from the house’s foundation.
Seal cracks and openings in the foundation, particularly where pipes and wires enter from the outside.
Trim dead tree limbs touching the roof or siding, as they can serve as a bridge between carpenter ants nesting in a dead tree and the structure.
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FALL NEEDLE SHED
Yellowing of needles in the fall is a regular occurrence for evergreen trees. Conifers do not keep their growth of needles on their inside branches and shed them naturally in the fall. The discoloration, which affects the older needles close to the trunk, occurs in late August and can continue until freeze up. The amount of shedding can be more significant if the tree is under stress caused by droughts, flooding or newly dug trees. These needles are not replaced, which is why evergreens are bare of needles near the trunk, and there is usually a carpet of needles under the tree.