Tree Banding

[RobMcBee]

This spring we had a serious canker worm problem. It was bad enough that the exterior walls of our house looked alive. I cut down alot of the trees that were close to our house, but I left a couple large mature oaks in hopes of saving them.

My question is, does anyone else band the trees on their property? If so when do you do it, and what do you use? Any tricks? I know there are a few people that do landscaping and or tree service that might want to chime in. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks

 

[RHSCTJ]

Cotton insulation cut down to about a 4" strip wrapped tight to keep bugs from going under. Wrap in cling wrap to keep dry. Tanglefoot spread outside the plastic wrap. early spring and fall is the best time. Don't leave them up more than about 2 months.

 

[RobMcBee]

appreciate it man! I've read several things on different ways of doing it. seems like this is the best way. I was just wondering if there were any other ways or techniques.

 

[justjeepin86]

Bringing up this old thread. Is it too late to band a tree for this fall?

 

[justjeepin86]

The worms I have are tent caterpillars though. Will banding work for them also.

 

[RHSCTJ]

Bringing up this old thread. Is it too late to band a tree for this fall?

Should be good. You want to get them on before the leaves fall and take them off when all leaves are gone. I would put the tanglefoot towards either the top or bottom of the wrap so you can do a second strip once the first fills up with leaves.

 

[justjeepin86]

Should be good. You want to get them on before the leaves fall and take them off when all leaves are gone. I would put the tanglefoot towards either the top or bottom of the wrap so you can do a second strip once the first fills up with leaves.

Well, the leaves fell off that tree already. Might try it anyway.

 

[RobMcBee]

Thanks for the reminder.... Need to get my bands up

 

[R Q]

The worms I have are tent caterpillars though. Will banding work for them also.

Bands do nothing for tent caterpillars or Black Striped Oak work which you are probably talking about. Banding for Canker Worms now is a bit early, I usually wait until right before Thanksgiving and leave them up through April. The Canker Worm moths crawl all winter and through early spring.

 

[justjeepin86]

Damn, shame I banded it this afternoon. Oh well. Thanks for the input.

 

[rockcity]

Charlotte engineering has a pretty good website for banding with info and product suppliers

Cankerworm

 

[rodney eppes]

Lowe's & probably other suppliers, sell a banding kit.

 

[RobMcBee]

I know they sale tangle foot

 

[ponykilr]

I have never heard of canker worms. We must not have them here or at least it's not a problem.

 

[R Q]

Damn, shame I banded it this afternoon. Oh well. Thanks for the input.

Its okay, leave it on and closer to Thanksgiving just reapply some more Tanglefoot. Monitor it to see when the wingless, egglaying moths start to climb.

 

[R Q]

I have never heard of canker worms. We must not have them here or at least it's not a problem.

They are what people call "Inch worms" either green or gray 1" long beasts!

 

[RobMcBee]

I have never heard of canker worms. We must not have them here or at least it's not a problem.

This area gets them bad! When they hatch in a tree, they can completely decimate the first leaves. Then they drop to the ground by threads. It's like walking through spiderwebs. I hate the lil sombitchers! Like I said in my original post, they were so bad here that the exterior walls of my house looked alive...

 

[ponykilr]

I used to see them as a kid once in a while. I can't tell you the last time i saw one.