Hemlocks turning brown

mishman · 04-06-2015, 08:05 PM

There has been very noticeable die back of hemlocks since last fall. I think it is caused by an aphid. Very surprised at how quickly it has occurred in our area of Moultonborough Neck. Has anyone had any luck with insect sprays or ground treatment? Would appreciate any advice that can help protect these trees. Once a tree starts to turn brown near the top, is it a lost cause or can it still be saved with treatment?

SAB1 · 04-06-2015, 08:27 PM

Do you or did you see any white cotton like stuff on the tree? That would indicate the adelgid.

Resident 2B · 04-06-2015, 10:04 PM

Info on adelgid: http://na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/pest_al/hemlock/hwa05.htm

R2B

jetlag100 · 04-07-2015, 07:51 AM

Lost a beauty 2 yrs. ago....damn bugs!

Orion · 04-07-2015, 09:56 AM

I've had good luck treating the roots using the Bayer adelgid treatment. You have to catch it before the tree turns brown though. I keep a good scan of all the hemlocks on my property for signs of the darned things. The tree usually gives you some signs it's in trouble before it's too late.

My trees had adelgids visible before treatment, gone after treatment. It may take treating 2 years in a row to completely eradicate, but the treatment definitely kills the adelgids and reverses the spread.

BroadHopper · 04-07-2015, 10:00 AM

My association had a number of hemlocks that turned brown. The 'feel good directors' request to have them all cut down even though the tree experts says the trees are healthy and it is common for them to turn brown every few years.

Yes, please check for parasites as noted above.

Misty Blue · 04-07-2015, 08:31 PM

Bad Stuff!

I have a pal who has a tree business. Last year he did a job at my neighbors house and noted a white fuzz under the needles of a hemlock. He said that it was woolly adelgid and it was a real problem.

The tree is on Braun Bay and he said that it was the first time that he has seen it in NH. He also said that in Conn. it wiped out whole forests of hemlocks.

It most probably came here from a southern NE state in firewood and spreads fast. It travels by birds from tree to tree and can kill the plant.

I noticed that we had a big blow down of trees on Moultonborough neck 20 years ago and it grew in with hemlocks. I noticed this week that their branches are bare.

My friend said that it can be treated by spraying it with an oil spray but it is not cost effective.

I wish that I had some good news. Sorry.

Misty Blue

ApS · 04-08-2015, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

My association had a number of hemlocks that turned brown. The 'feel good directors' request to have them all cut down even though the tree experts says the trees are healthy and it is common for them to turn brown every few years. Yes, please check for parasites as noted above.

Hemlocks will "race" White Pines to replace land that have been "disturbed" through bulldozing, fire, clearing, or forests "harvested" for firewood.

I have plenty of Hemlocks, and I've noticed that a few of their branches will "normally" turn brown every season. (I wouldn't miss them if they'd died off).

Replacing them with fast-growing White Pines around the lake would likely reduce the silt (from runoff) that milfoil prefers to take root in.

04-06-2015, 08:05 PM	#1
mishman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 178 Thanks: 59 Thanked 96 Times in 43 Posts	Hemlocks turning brown There has been very noticeable die back of hemlocks since last fall. I think it is caused by an aphid. Very surprised at how quickly it has occurred in our area of Moultonborough Neck. Has anyone had any luck with insect sprays or ground treatment? Would appreciate any advice that can help protect these trees. Once a tree starts to turn brown near the top, is it a lost cause or can it still be saved with treatment?

04-07-2015, 09:56 AM	#5
Orion Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: MA Posts: 914 Thanks: 602 Thanked 193 Times in 91 Posts	root treatment works I've had good luck treating the roots using the Bayer adelgid treatment. You have to catch it before the tree turns brown though. I keep a good scan of all the hemlocks on my property for signs of the darned things. The tree usually gives you some signs it's in trouble before it's too late. My trees had adelgids visible before treatment, gone after treatment. It may take treating 2 years in a row to completely eradicate, but the treatment definitely kills the adelgids and reverses the spread. Last edited by Orion; 04-08-2015 at 07:51 AM.

04-07-2015, 10:00 AM	#6
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,607 Thanks: 3,238 Thanked 1,113 Times in 799 Posts	Brown hemlocks My association had a number of hemlocks that turned brown. The 'feel good directors' request to have them all cut down even though the tree experts says the trees are healthy and it is common for them to turn brown every few years. Yes, please check for parasites as noted above. __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

04-07-2015, 08:31 PM	#7
Misty Blue Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 658 Thanks: 121 Thanked 283 Times in 98 Posts	Woolly Adeligid Bad Stuff! I have a pal who has a tree business. Last year he did a job at my neighbors house and noted a white fuzz under the needles of a hemlock. He said that it was woolly adelgid and it was a real problem. The tree is on Braun Bay and he said that it was the first time that he has seen it in NH. He also said that in Conn. it wiped out whole forests of hemlocks. It most probably came here from a southern NE state in firewood and spreads fast. It travels by birds from tree to tree and can kill the plant. I noticed that we had a big blow down of trees on Moultonborough neck 20 years ago and it grew in with hemlocks. I noticed this week that their branches are bare. My friend said that it can be treated by spraying it with an oil spray but it is not cost effective. I wish that I had some good news. Sorry. Misty Blue

04-06-2015, 08:27 PM	#2
SAB1 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Tuftonboro Posts: 1,251 Thanks: 193 Thanked 334 Times in 242 Posts	Do you or did you see any white cotton like stuff on the tree? That would indicate the adelgid.

04-06-2015, 10:04 PM	#3
Resident 2B Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Shore, MA Posts: 1,358 Thanks: 996 Thanked 314 Times in 164 Posts	Info on adelgid: http://na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/pest_al/hemlock/hwa05.htm R2B

04-07-2015, 07:51 AM	#4
jetlag100 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Revere, Massachusetts and Moultonborough, N.H. Posts: 311 Thanks: 228 Thanked 79 Times in 50 Posts	Lost a beauty 2 yrs. ago....damn bugs!