How to deal with insects in Christmas trees
Bugs and Christmas trees
Have you ever thought that the tree you are about to buy came from a nearby farm or forest and was cut down only a few days ago? But what lives in living trees? Insects. They build their nests and lay their eggs there. And they may still be alive when you buy.
You might spot mites, mantises, bark beetles, spiders and aphids... or many other species.
Even wreaths and garlands made from live tree stems travel thousands of miles to reach their destination. This can bring foreign insects into our environment.
In the rest of the text, you will discover some simple precautions to reduce the risks inherent to the purchase of your Christmas tree.
When to store for your Christmas tree
To make it easier to spot eggs and insects in a tree, it is best to choose it in daylight. At night, it will obviously be more difficult to spot the bugs and various signs of their presence.
Look under the branches
Take the time to observe certain sections of your tree: its trunk and the underside of its branches, focusing on the lowest ones. You want to look for any relevant clues, such as clusters of eggs, red or brown dots, white flakes of some sort, white dots on the needles and, of course, insects.
Removing insects from a Christmas tree
The most common species you should see are aphids. They are killed with insecticidal soap, which as far as possible you make to control the composition, or non-toxic neem oil.
These solutions avoid the use of chemical sprays, which can be found in the shops. They are harmful to your health. Moreover, they are quite often flammable and it would be a shame if your tree evaporated under the flames.
Insects can wander onto your floor and furniture. You should avoid crushing them to avoid smudging the surfaces.
So, the vacuum cleaner will help you put an end to their escapade. However, don't forget to treat the bag with the same products: insecticidal soap or neem oil.
Getting rid of the Christmas tree
You've been able to feast your eyes on your majestic decorated tree and now that time of rejoicing has come to an end. What should you do with it now?
Avoid the easy solution of putting it in the compost or throwing it in the brush. The bugs from your tree could spread to the surrounding area.
Instead, check to see if your city or town offers a Christmas tree collection. If not, it's important to take it to a landfill, solid waste facility or dump. You may as well ask a tree care service that has a chipper to do the job. Chipping will prevent the insects from spreading. These methods are all adequate.
Don't harvest a holiday insect infestation
Surely you wouldn't want your home to be infested with bugs for Christmas? Bet that wasn't on your wish list! Be advised that this is possible. In such a case, it is imperative to treat your home properly to eradicate these unwanted pests.
So you know that Christmas trees can be full of insects, that the tree deserves to be inspected before purchase and you know how to eradicate eggs and insects as well as the correct ways to dispose of your conifer.
These measures serve to ensure the protection of our ecosystems in particular. If insect pests from elsewhere were to proliferate, tree species could become extinct over time. It is best to avoid such a possibility.
Have you ever thought that the tree you are about to buy came from a nearby farm or forest and was cut down only a few days ago? But what lives in living trees? Insects. They build their nests and lay their eggs there. And they may still be alive when you buy.
You might spot mites, mantises, bark beetles, spiders and aphids... or many other species.
Even wreaths and garlands made from live tree stems travel thousands of miles to reach their destination. This can bring foreign insects into our environment.
In the rest of the text, you will discover some simple precautions to reduce the risks inherent to the purchase of your Christmas tree.
When to store for your Christmas tree
To make it easier to spot eggs and insects in a tree, it is best to choose it in daylight. At night, it will obviously be more difficult to spot the bugs and various signs of their presence.
Look under the branches
Take the time to observe certain sections of your tree: its trunk and the underside of its branches, focusing on the lowest ones. You want to look for any relevant clues, such as clusters of eggs, red or brown dots, white flakes of some sort, white dots on the needles and, of course, insects.
Removing insects from a Christmas tree
The most common species you should see are aphids. They are killed with insecticidal soap, which as far as possible you make to control the composition, or non-toxic neem oil.
These solutions avoid the use of chemical sprays, which can be found in the shops. They are harmful to your health. Moreover, they are quite often flammable and it would be a shame if your tree evaporated under the flames.
Insects can wander onto your floor and furniture. You should avoid crushing them to avoid smudging the surfaces.
So, the vacuum cleaner will help you put an end to their escapade. However, don't forget to treat the bag with the same products: insecticidal soap or neem oil.
Getting rid of the Christmas tree
You've been able to feast your eyes on your majestic decorated tree and now that time of rejoicing has come to an end. What should you do with it now?
Avoid the easy solution of putting it in the compost or throwing it in the brush. The bugs from your tree could spread to the surrounding area.
Instead, check to see if your city or town offers a Christmas tree collection. If not, it's important to take it to a landfill, solid waste facility or dump. You may as well ask a tree care service that has a chipper to do the job. Chipping will prevent the insects from spreading. These methods are all adequate.
Don't harvest a holiday insect infestation
Surely you wouldn't want your home to be infested with bugs for Christmas? Bet that wasn't on your wish list! Be advised that this is possible. In such a case, it is imperative to treat your home properly to eradicate these unwanted pests.
So you know that Christmas trees can be full of insects, that the tree deserves to be inspected before purchase and you know how to eradicate eggs and insects as well as the correct ways to dispose of your conifer.
These measures serve to ensure the protection of our ecosystems in particular. If insect pests from elsewhere were to proliferate, tree species could become extinct over time. It is best to avoid such a possibility.