What is Overwintering?
Insects and other organisms can take shelter for the colder season in trees and plants, a process known as overwintering. Think of it as being pretty similar to bears that hibernate during the winter.
Overwintering pests nest into the crotch of tree limbs, under tree bark, or in other plant matter to wait out the colder weather. As they overwinter, the insects lay their eggs and emerge the next year to begin wreaking havoc in your lawn and yard once again. This can cause quite a bit of damage if you don’t treat your trees and plants properly.
Insects that overwinter include aphids, scale insects, Japanese beetles, and boxelder bugs.
Why Overwintering Pests are Problematic
When overwintering pests emerge in spring, it’s almost as if they have a jumpstart on causing damage since they’re already in plants and trees. For example, aphids emerge and begin using their sharp mouths to drive into the surface of soft leaves and stems to consume the sap. Then, they secret any excess sugars in the form of honeydew, a sticky substance that plays host to the fungus that causes sooty mold to develop on tree branches and trunks, as well as the leaves. Aphids can also cause leaves and stems to be deformed, stunt a plant’s growth, and create the yellowing of leaves and stems.
As another example, consider the case of scale insects. When the immature scale insects hatch, they have legs that allow them to crawl around and find a spot on their host plant or tree to feed while they mature into the stationary adult form. Much like aphids, these pests will pierce branches and stems to feed on a plant or tree’s sap. This depletes the plant’s stored energy sources and leads to the dieback of branches, twigs, and leaves. If detected too late, scale insects can cause a plant or tree to die.
How to Treat Overwintering
At got lawn?, we treat overwintering with dormant oil applications. This treatment method consists of applying the solution during a plant’s dormant stage of growth prior to the buds opening in the spring. Through this treatment process, the application is sprayed onto trees and plants and as the solution covers exposed insects or eggs, they are smothered and controlled because their breathing tubes become clogged.
Contact Your Local Lawn Care Professionals
Ready to protect your lawn’s trees and plants from overwintering insects? Contact us to learn more about our overwintering application and add it to your current lawn care plan. Call us today at 470-731-6882. Don’t have a lawn care plan? Check out our services to learn how we can help care for your lawn and trees all year long.
