A rose is a rose and a tree is a tree – at least when it comes to attacking arbor-attacking pests. Though new varieties of flowering trees are bred to be less susceptible to certain pests, some still manage to find their ways in.
Dennis Simeone, branch manager, Skinner Nurseries, Atlanta, Ga., advised landscape contractors that flowering trees get just about every type of pest imaginable: Japanese beetles, aphids, borers, and the list goes on. “It’s dessert for them – anything pretty and beautiful will attract pests,” Simeone noted. For the most part though, flowering trees were not reported to be more vulnerable to pests than their non-flowering counterparts.
Tom Demaline, president, Willoway Nurseries, Avon, Ohio, noted, “As far as trees go, most trees are generally not overly susceptible. There’s a potential for damage to any of them, but I wouldn’t not plant one because I was worried about pests.”
Tree pests run the gamut from aphids and borers to scabs and leafspot, though each species has their own set of problems. “Diseases are generally genus specific,” remarked Jerry Fultz, general manager, Acorn Farms, Columbus, Ohio. “Crabs will have a certain set of diseases while pears will have something else. Typically, fireblight is a concern among numerous cultivars and numerous genuses. Scab and rust issues are other major diseases,” he said, adding that tent caterpillars and fall webworm can also cause problems.
What’s the best solution for handling these types of pests? Step one is planting the right type of tree in the first place. “Crabapples, for instance, have a few diseases they’re susceptible to, but you also have varieties that are resistant to these problems,” Fultz said. “The most critical part of the process is selection – selecting disease-resistant cultivars to go in the landscape.” Fultz suggested that contractors research the diseases that are prevalent in their area of the country, and determine which cultivars are most resistant to those problems.
In some cases, spraying trees with pesticides eliminates the offenders and allows the tree to remain healthy additions to a landscape. However, Simeone advised that preventive maintenance is key. “A lot of times, a spraying schedule might be too aggressive,” he noted. “A good IPM (integrated pest management) schedule works well and keeps pesticide use to a minimum. Inspections bi-monthly or even weekly can keep you informed of how the trees are doing.”
The author is Assistant Editor of Lawn & Landscape magazine and can be reached at lspiers@lawnandlandscape.com.