Worried about Insects Harming Your Shrubs and Trees?

If you’re worried about insects harming your shrubs and trees, you’re not alone by any means. Each year, insects cause injury and damage to millions upon millions of shrubs and trees. Defoliating and sucking of sap are the two most common means of how insects can launch an assault and retard plant and tree growth.The loss of tree sap weakens the structures of trunks and trees; thus causing stress disorder or pathogen. Insects are also know to be the carrier of diseases, which can have a harmful effect on trees already weakened by the loss of sap. Keep in mind thought not all insects are harmful to your trees. Nature has provided little helpers that help with pollination and guard against the predatory acts of more harmful insect species.How Insects FeedInsects are divided into three categories with respect to their method of feeding: boring, sucking or chewing. It’s tough for the average person to know the potential patterns of damage each insect group can cause. That’s why it’s wise to consult a professional tree expert (arborist) to identify and suggest treatment.Be on the lookout for the following signs:* Chewed leaves, flowers, buds or twigs. This condition is easy tospot by the uneven or broken margins on the leaves.* Plant or leaf discoloration. Sucking insects’ feed by inserting their beaks (proboscis) into the soft tissue of twigs, leaves and branches.  Aphids and leaf-hoppers are just two examples of these kinds of insects. Plants and tree leaves will show a noticeable lack of vigor when this occurs.* Tree bark laden with larvae or holes. Insects that bore spend the majority of their time beneath the bark of a tree as larvae. When they become adults, they continue the cycle of mating and laying eggs. The “Bark Beetle” is notorious for destroying millions of acres of pinetrees across America.One way or another, nature is going to have its way in the world. Quite often, the only thing we can do is admire it and get out of its way.  But this doesn’t mean you can’t put up a fight to defend your property. If you’re concerned insects might be damaging your plants, trees and shrubbery, give the tree experts at Wauson Tree Service a call today.Call Walt today for a free estimate at 214-450-8720, or email him at walt [at] wausontreeservice [dot] com.