While we welcome the return of Spring, we don’t look forward to the return of plant pests! Creatures of all kinds live on and around our properties, and while some are nice to have around, others can become pests. Pests in your yard can cause damage to your plants, trees, and lawn. The best way to prevent damage is to take proactive steps to deter pests.

1. Barriers: Make your yard more difficult for pests to access.

2. Remove potential breeding grounds: Remove any sources of standing water, which can serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other pests.

3. Maintain your yard:

• Keep your lawn trimmed and your garden weed to create an uninviting environment for pests.

• Keep your yard free of debris where pests can hide, such as leaves, grass clippings, and wood piles.

• Prune or thin out dense plants, as overgrowth can provide shelter for pests.

4. Plant pest-resistant plants: Certain plants can act as natural barriers to pests.

5. Use traps: Place traps around your yard to catch pests.

6. Seal off entry points: Make sure to seal off any potential entry points into your home, such as cracks in the foundation, holes in the siding, and gaps around windows and doors.

7. Inspect Regularly

Spongy moth, an invasive pest, is one of the most important insect pests of forest and shade trees in the United States. Spongy moth caterpillars return in mid-to-late April.

Early Spring to Mid April, Destroy Egg Masses

Egg masses are found on trees, on buildings, in firewood piles or in birdhouses. One egg mass can contain over 600 eggs. If you spot the egg masses, you can reduce pest populations before they hatch. Treat egg masses with horticultural oil or scrape into a bucket of soapy water and soak for a few days before discarding. Visit spongymoth.wi.gov for more information.

In Late April, Place barrier bands on tree trunks.

Barrier bands will prevent newly hatched caterpillars from climbing back into trees after they have fallen. Barrier bands can be purchased or made using duct tape or other material that can be wrapped around a tree and coated with a sticky material such as TangleFoot® or Vaseline® (but NEVER put material directly on the tree). Protect thin-barked trees with paper around the trunk before using tape.

For more information visit this UW-Extension Management Guide

Other pests you may see in Spring can damage your plants, but are not as dangerous. For Example, Pine sawflies works in groups to strip needles off evergreens, but if the tree is healthy, it can grow more throughout the year.

Tent caterpillar larvae emerges in the spring from eggs overwintered on trees. The larvae spin a silken tent to protect against the weather. They emerge from the tent to eat the leaves off the tree, and often completely defoliate it. When that happens in the spring, plants usually can recover, but it does stress the tree and looks unpleasant.

Prevention and natural pest control methods are preferred because chemical pesticides can harm beneficial insects, such as bees and butterflies, and are also harmful to the environment. There are many natural control options available, including granular or spray oils and repellents. In extreme infestations, chemical pesticides may be necessary, but it is always advisable to use a professional.