The killer woolly adelgid is here! Check the bottom side of the branches of your hemlock trees. If you see tiny little gray dots, your trees are infested with the woolly adelgid. This insect feeds on the hemlock tree’s sap, and as a result, the tree typically dies five to seven years after infestation. Some areas of the country have seen a 90 percent mortality rate. Because we do not currently have a local tree specialist to recommend, you may wish to treat your own trees. A professional arborist shared the following with us:

"Obtain Bayer Advance Garden Tree and Shrub Insect Control (usually available at Wal-Mart, Home Depot, or Lowes). Follow the included instructions. This product is very 'consumer friendly' and it is effective if applied properly - with particular attention to keeping the soil moist for at least two weeks after treatment. Recent research has shown that the active ingredient used to treat hemlock wooly adelgid does not migrate far in the soil, therefore it is suitable for hemlocks that are located near water - provided there is no contact with surface water."

"Some neighborhood groups have gone together to buy a Kioritz Soil Injector - and that is a good idea. They cost a little over $300 on the Internet (just Google the name). This device will enable the use of Merit in less expensive formulations than the Bayer Advance Garden Tree and Shrub Insect Control. It isn't worth the trouble for a few trees, but is worthwhile for someone who has a number of large trees."

"Moist soil is key to the trees' ability to take up the treatment for hemlock wooly adelgid - so moist weather is very desirable. October is a good time to treat trees."

Here is a link to further information:  http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/O&T/trees/note119a/note119a.htm.

You may also wish to contact the Georgia DNR.

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