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Like any living thing, plants are susceptible to attack from insects and disease. Limited populations of pathogenic organisms are normal in any landscape, but, in some cases, they must be controlled by the application of materials designed for this purpose. The most common plant pest problems that we treat for are:
Tree Specialists utilizes the latest class of spray materials called bio-rationals. These are the most effective and least toxic materials available for pest management in Holliston, MA. In fact, most are less toxic than common household cleaning agents. Whenever practical, we recommend removal of insect or disease prone plants and replacement with resistant cultivars.
Additionally, protect yourself, your family, and your pets with our tick management program.
The hemlock woolly adelgid is similar to an aphid. They are native to East Asia, and made their way to the United States from Japan in the 1950s. This type of adelgid specifically targets and kills hemlock trees. Their appearance looks like cotton at the base of hemlock needles. You can find them all year, but most commonly between the months of November and July.
Spider mites are tiny arachnids that feed on the sap inside plant cells, causing damage and stopping the plant from being able to photosynthesize. They create webbing, which can be visible on plant leaves and stems, that they use to move around the plant and protect their colony. The mites, themselves, are usually found on the undersides of leaves, but need magnification in order to be seen. You may also notice that the leaves of your plant start to yellow or turn bronze.
Scale insects come in two varieties: soft scale and hard (armored) scale. They are considered soft-bodied, and the soft or hard scale distinction comes from the wax that covers their bodies. The wax on soft scale insects is flexible and “gum-like”. It remains on their bodies throughout their lives. Soft scale insects may or may not move around a plant throughout their life. Hard scale insects use a wax that is much harder, as the name suggests, and the wax is not attached to the insect’s body. Another difference is that soft scale secretes honeydew, whereas hard scale doesn’t.
Both kinds are sap-sucking insects that can cause the tissue of the plants to weaken or die.
There are a variety of fungal tree diseases that can be present in MetroWest Boston. Here are a few of the most common:
The Spotted Lantern Fly is an invasive species that has spread to this area of North America from China. They spread by egg masses that mimic the appearance of smeared mud. Egg masses can be laid almost anywhere on almost any type of surface, so they spread incredibly quickly.
