Do I have aphids in my trees?
Q: I was walking around my property, taking stock of what’s going on, and inspected my pine trees for damage from the last few storms. I was startled when I found gobs of small black bugs clustered in nooks and along lots of the stems! Most have clear wings and look a lot like aphids that I’ve seen but they are black! What do my trees have and should I be worried? — E.G., Albuquerque
A: Worried? You better be! You’re correct in your recognition of the critters, they are aphids.
Amazingly, aphids are like chameleons in a way as they can come in several colors. No, they don’t change colors, there are just lots of different types. I’ve seen white ones, black ones, sort of a pale pink colored ones and the typical green ones in my life. But they’re aphids, nonetheless, and able to inflict a whole host of trouble. So, I’ll suggest you treat your trees and do it soon.
Consider spraying with a pesticide like malathion or pyrethrin to gain an upper hand for this, your initial strike at control. If you have concerns about applying a strong pesticide, spray with a dormant oil. Read your pesticide labels for restrictions as to temperature and frequency of the pesticide you choose, but if the infestation is a bad one, get a good knock down with a strong pesticide then change to a more environmentally friendly one for any followup sprayings you might need to apply. However, do it soon as birds are going to start nesting soon and spraying them is harsh!
Monitor the trees throughout the coming growing season and treat them, if necessary. One of the simplest ways to treat for aphids is with water. Spray the tree with the hardest jet of water it can stand! That would disrupt the aphid colonies for sure and helps prevent a secondary malady called sooty mold that can lead to more stress for your trees. Be sure you aren’t over-fertilizing your trees, either. It sounds weird, but a too well-fed plant is an attractant for aphids!
I know the weather this weekend isn’t conducive to getting out and taking care of business, but don’t put it off any longer than necessary. Aphids can cause a whole lot of trouble if they are allowed free rein in your trees!
Q: I recently had to repair an underground sprinkler line in the lawn. Now we have a dirt strip where the grass was and it looks horrible! When can I spread grass seed to repair the damage to the lawn and expect it to take? — A.W., Albuquerque
A: Just a couple of weeks ago, I wrote about seeding and the answer is still the same: you’re going to have to wait a few more weeks. The earliest I’d recommend the re-seeding would be late February, and that’s only if you have a fescue or bluegrass lawn. It’ll be much later in the growing season for turfs like Bermuda to be applied.
But you can get the trench ready in the meantime. Go ahead and rake any dead tufts of grass that could be making the area look so tattered. A sturdy bow rake is great for this. While you are doing this, use the rake to level the soil smooth, too. Break up any large clumps of soil and tamp the area down so the soil doesn’t blow away. If you have any low spots, fill those with topsoil and keep the area watered so everything stays put. Then be patient! It’ll be time to do this project soon. Happy Digging In!