Posted: July 15, 2021
Have you noticed a white cottony substance on the lower branches at the base of the needles on your Hemlocks? The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid is prevalent on these trees this year. Changing regional weather patterns, especially milder winters, have caused the insect to thrive in our area. If you have Hemlocks, read on...
Many residents throughout Pennsylvania have noticed a white waxy substance that looks like small balls of cotton on their Hemlocks. This is the product of a pest called the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid. The bad news is that it will kill its namesake tree if left untreated.
The good news is that effective treatments exist to save the Hemlocks. Depending on the method of treatment, you will need to retreat every year, or every two or three years. You have several options, but doing nothing is not one of them if you want to keep your trees. You may call a Certified Arborist to treat the trees, or follow one of several recommended treatment protocols from our Penn State Urban Forestry experts.
Contact us through the County Extension Office to discuss your particular situation and what method of treatment might work best for you. You may contact us by calling 814-445-8911 or by emailing somersetmg@psu.edu.
For more information, view this recent Penn State news item.
