Numerous pests have their sights set on the tree trunk as their winter quarters and breeding ground. You are not helpless against the brazen infestation in the natural hobby garden. Read the best tips here on how to fight pests in the tree trunk without poison.
How can pests be controlled in tree trunks?
To combat pests in the tree trunk, you can use a shoot spray with a spray containing rapeseed oil at the mouse ear stage. On apple trees, glue rings, corrugated cardboard, caterpillar glue and natural predators such as parasitic wasps are helpful against frost moths, codling moths and apple blossom piercers.
How can I control pests in the tree trunk?
With ashooting spray you can combat most pests that attack a tree trunk. Sprays containing rapeseed oil destroy the eggs and larvae that overwinter under the bark. The timing is just as important as the application technique. How to do it right:
- The best time is in themouse ear stage, when the first leaf tips emerge from the swollen buds.
- Brush off loose pieces of bark from the tree trunk.
- Spray the tree trunk, branches and twigs with the spray until dripping wet.
- Result: The oil film prevents gas exchange on eggs and closes the breathing openings on larvae or caterpillars.
How can I control pests in the apple tree trunk?
You can effectively combat pest infestation in the tree trunk of an apple tree withglue rings, corrugated cardboard, caterpillar glue and natural predators. With these products you can destroy common pests such as frost moths, codling moths and apple blossom pluckers on pears, plums and cherries:
- Attach the glue ring to the tree trunk at a height of 50 cm in September.
- Wrap corrugated cardboard in 10 cm strips around the tree trunk and branches from the end of May to the end of June and destroy them weekly along with the pests that have accumulated underneath.
- Mix the caterpillar glue yourself and apply it from September to a height of 50-80 cm.
- Place parasitic wasps in the treetops as predators in spring.
Tip
Mushroom pests – the invisible danger
Fungal infestation on the trunk always indicates a serious tree disease. Beneath the inconspicuous fruiting bodies on the bark, gigantic organisms branch out throughout the tree trunk. Wood-decaying fungi species consume trees from the inside out and massively impair their stability. These include dreaded fungal pests such as sulfur porling (Laetiporus sulphureus) and oxtongue (Fistulina hepatica), which cause brown rot. Fungal pests that cause white rot are fire fungus (Phellinus igniarius) and tinder fungus (Fomes).
