The Woolly Adelgid is Hemlock Enemy #1. This exotic pest, believed to be a native of Asia, has been in the United States since 1924. It has been plaguing the Northeast for about a decade or so and has no natural enemies within this country.
To identify the Adelgid look for small white cottony puffs (pictured left) at the base of the hemlock needles.
Insecticide is the best way to combat this pest and preserve this beautiful evergreen. A spray application or two with the insecticide Merit will provide season-long protection. Merit (the same product used to control grubs in your lawn) is systemic, which means it is absorbed by the tree and then moves internally to other parts of the tree. Because this product is systemic it provides protection even if your hemlocks are not currently infested.
Please Contact Us for more information and to schedule a treatment for your hemlocks.
