Show Me Smart Gardening Scout Training Notice: Anybody Can Do This!
by MaryAnn Fink
Conservation Specialist
copyright 2010
Now is the time to remove the egg masses of the Eastern Tent Caterpillars in Missouri. They will begin to hatch as the tree's buds are opening. Look especially on the younger "pencil" thickness size twig shoots for for small silver gray matter. The egg mass looks almost like metalic chewed gum wrapped partially around the twig . At the very least scouting is a simple and proactive step when deciding on whether there is a problem and possible approaches particularly for small young trees that aren’t big enough to just shrug off the headache of the spring leaf damage this pest can cause!
The glistening egg masses are easy to see, and require minimal effort at this stage to remove. They can be prune or scrape off but that usually isn't even necessary! Just give them a quick rub between your thumb and fingers! This will turn the dried mass to fairy –like dust that will surely encourages Spring to hurry.
Look for these glitter globs (egg masses) right now on bright sunny days when they are easiest to see (Isn't everyone walking the landscape at least weekly anyway? I prefer mornings with a cup of coffee with skim and sweetner and my sweet-sweet Lucy-dog. We are both hoping to have have more days like today soon!) It seems apple, cherry, plum, crabapple, are Eastern Tent Caterpillar’s favorites!
Seeing Red
My red top fades but so does the maturing red twig dogwood! Winter stem color is lost because of aging; however its shoots can be severely pruned to near ground every 3-4 years to promote uniform twig color.
This seems to be a more efficient and easier rejuvenation step than struggling yearly to remove only some of the older twigs of the maturing dogwood without damaging the younger newer shoots!
Both ways yield satisfactory results but selective pruning does require attention to detail, skill and patience.
Encouraging a full flush of growth of new shoots is demanding for a plant so this practice needs to be well times before leaf break and may delay some normal sequencing and affect attainable height in the landscape. Please note: this is an example of extreme management and it could conceivably contribute to partial or complete specimen failure in some situations.
Redtwig dogwoods already have appreciable value for soil stabilization, water and soil conservation. It is also receiving positive attention for use as a beneficial pollinator attractant and rain garden choice, especially where ornamental functionals are desirable.
It does have notable tolerance for recovery after natural pruning and the much less natural but frequent roadside abuse. It has been a star performer despite challenging situations and tolerates these alternate management events with consistent color impact. This care management practice is an option that might be best applied after establishment in the landscape. There is always the possibility that this might weaken or decrease the overall vigor of the plant.
Conservation Specialist
copyright 2010
Now is the time to remove the egg masses of the Eastern Tent Caterpillars in Missouri. They will begin to hatch as the tree's buds are opening. Look especially on the younger "pencil" thickness size twig shoots for for small silver gray matter. The egg mass looks almost like metalic chewed gum wrapped partially around the twig . At the very least scouting is a simple and proactive step when deciding on whether there is a problem and possible approaches particularly for small young trees that aren’t big enough to just shrug off the headache of the spring leaf damage this pest can cause!
The glistening egg masses are easy to see, and require minimal effort at this stage to remove. They can be prune or scrape off but that usually isn't even necessary! Just give them a quick rub between your thumb and fingers! This will turn the dried mass to fairy –like dust that will surely encourages Spring to hurry.
Look for these glitter globs (egg masses) right now on bright sunny days when they are easiest to see (Isn't everyone walking the landscape at least weekly anyway? I prefer mornings with a cup of coffee with skim and sweetner and my sweet-sweet Lucy-dog. We are both hoping to have have more days like today soon!) It seems apple, cherry, plum, crabapple, are Eastern Tent Caterpillar’s favorites!
Seeing Red
My red top fades but so does the maturing red twig dogwood! Winter stem color is lost because of aging; however its shoots can be severely pruned to near ground every 3-4 years to promote uniform twig color.
This seems to be a more efficient and easier rejuvenation step than struggling yearly to remove only some of the older twigs of the maturing dogwood without damaging the younger newer shoots!
Both ways yield satisfactory results but selective pruning does require attention to detail, skill and patience.
Encouraging a full flush of growth of new shoots is demanding for a plant so this practice needs to be well times before leaf break and may delay some normal sequencing and affect attainable height in the landscape. Please note: this is an example of extreme management and it could conceivably contribute to partial or complete specimen failure in some situations.
Redtwig dogwoods already have appreciable value for soil stabilization, water and soil conservation. It is also receiving positive attention for use as a beneficial pollinator attractant and rain garden choice, especially where ornamental functionals are desirable.
It does have notable tolerance for recovery after natural pruning and the much less natural but frequent roadside abuse. It has been a star performer despite challenging situations and tolerates these alternate management events with consistent color impact. This care management practice is an option that might be best applied after establishment in the landscape. There is always the possibility that this might weaken or decrease the overall vigor of the plant.
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