Bagworm Explosion
Bagworm populations have increased tremendously in the last few years due to the unseasonably warm weather in late spring and early summer. This caused the bagworms to hatch in large numbers much earlier than expected. Most people aren’t aware of the problem until it’s too late and the damage is done. Bagworms are only an 1/8 of an inch when hatched and well camouflaged. The higher populations of 2018 continued into 2019, so it’s extremely important to monitor your trees going into 2020 as well. If you or your neighbors found these little devils on your trees, you will want to be proactive in the springtime to protect your trees.
Hardest hit are the arborvitaes, followed by junipers and spruce. Bagworms are easily controlled if sprayed when small but are much harder to control when mature. Remember to pick off all the teardrop shaped bags that you can see. Leaving just one female bagworm on your plant can generate 150-350 offspring the following year. Bagworms can do quick and lasting damage to a hedge or screen of evergreens in just 24 hours. Plants with light to moderate damage have a better chance of survival with deep root fertilization and supplemental watering. Severely damaged plants will have to be replaced.
If you have had damage or suspect a problem, please give our arborists a call or email and we’d be happy to assist!
Check out the Missouri Botanical Garden for more information on bagworms.
We were very pleased with the service and particularly the knowledge & professionalism of your staff. We would certainly recommend you.
We are very pleased with the plantings suggested by and picked out by Mike. The men arrived on time to plant the boxwood and witch hazel tree; dug out the stump and cleaned up. They were pleasant and helpful – we couldn’t have asked for a better team.
We were very pleased and impressed with Dan and his team. We love our new trees and garden.
Thank you so much for all the information you provide – the watering information, the emails and the flier. I read it all and have learned so much. My magnolia trees look surprisingly healthy considering the way they looked when I first called.
Kevin Seger provided expert advice and recommendations about tree maintenance and removal. He listened to my needs and provided a thorough and affordable proposal. On the day of the job, I was very impressed with crew leader, Dave and his team (Felix & Adam). They were professional, efficient, hard-working and very neat about clean-up.
An outstanding job on the four trees and clean-up after the work and removal. We would be happy to recommend your services to everyone – the best tree service we ever have had here in St. Louis.
Kevin was able to come out the same day I called and a crew was out the next day! Great prompt service. I was not at home when the work was done but results show they did a fine job.
Everyone came through as usual when I needed the crew to come back & take out the balance of the fire blight. They did not have a bucket the first time and were so nice and professional about coming back again.
Thank you again for responding to our urgent need after the storm took down our 2 trees & deposited them across our driveway. Your crew, as always, did a fabulous job. Professional, courteous & it is a pleasure doing business with your company.
We appreciate your knowledge and professionalism. Your employees are prompt and courteous and willing to do whatever needs to be done to complete the project. Cleanup was great.
