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Springtime Protection Of Your
Forest And Yard Against Cankerworm Landscape Damage
By Kerry A. Francis
Myths
and misconceptions abound about the springtime banding of yard, ornamental
and fruit trees against the upcoming hordes of spring as well as early
springtime cankerworms infestations.
The confusion over Cankerworms arises due to the fact that there are actually
two different species of Cankerworms.
Whether it
is the spring or fall varieties of Cankerworm moth species varieties both can
do a great amount of damage to your trees.
Whether it is oak, elm, fruit or ornamental trees the damage can be lasting
and insidious. Trees may recover two or three attempts at defoliation by the
moths. Yet the third hit can cause major stressors to the life of the tree.
Especially in cases of high value or trees that are either semimetal in
nature or hard to replace the results can be catastrophic and either hard to
replace, very expensive to replace or both.
One of the major tools of the landscaper and landscape maintenance experts is
the pre-emptory practice of “tree banding”. “Tree banding” can be very
effective against both the prevention of and prevention of the spread of
Cankerworms and the damage inflicted on your trees and landscaping effects by
these pesky moth larva. There is more to tree bands that what meets the eye.
In addition there are misconceptions as well concerning the practice.
First of all it is not only oak or elms trees that need to be banded. The
simple hard truth is that almost all deciduous trees need to be banded. If
the hungry cankerworms cannot feed on one tree preferentially they will go
after other species of deciduous trees as alternate food sources. The
critical trees that definitely need to be banded are: oak, elm, ash, maple,
and fruit as well as ornamental trees.
A second question comes about in that should the band be taken down after the
spring population of cankerworms has subsided. Cankerworms larva emerge from
the ground and then crawl upwards the trees. Some would argue that leaving
the bands on, does not matter and that it only a matter of unsightliness if
you chose to leave the bands on the trees. Unsightliness or laziness aside,
leaving the bands up on the trees leaves the trees susceptible to bark damage
from having water accumulations under the band. Damage of the wet bark by
fungus can be a concern as well.
Does the tanglefoot band require maintenance? In a matter of cases they do.
It all depends on the amount of Cankerworm infestations in your geographic
area of the landscape area that you care for. If the infestation is heavy,
then the bands will become full of the bugs and other debris. The tanglefoot
band is to coin a phrase – overwhelmed and of little use. Simply monitor the
bands from time to time. If they do become covered with bugs and debris simply
take a straightedge, such as a simple putty knife, dislodge and loose debris
and stir up the Tanglefoot to refresh it. This will bring fresh, sticky
Tanglefoot material to the surface. A warning, if the Tanglefoot is not
maintained, it will so full as to become ineffective in stopping the flow of
those mean, damaging Cankerworms up your trees – doing damage along the way
and at the top of your precious trees.
Lastly remember that if you are going to go to the work of applying and
Tanglefoot bands that even though you place the bands on the trees in the
fall, that if you cannot maintain and refresh the Tanglefoot material in the
spring, then it is all a lost cause. Plan ahead for spring re-application,
and inspection of the tanglefoot material in the spring. Otherwise it is a
wasted exercise for your trees over the course of the year to protect them
from the evil Cankerworm larva.
_________________________________________________________________________
Copyright © Kerry A. Francis
www.glendalegolfs.com Manitoba Golfing and
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