What can I do to prevent webworms from eating the leaves on my trees?

Question

Neighbors on two sides of my backyard have webworms in their trees. When I see them in my trees, I immediately cut the infected growth away. However, they seem to be getting worse and I am unable to reach those in the tops of my tall trees. Is there a prevention insecticide I can spray my trees with?

Answer 1

I'm sure there is preventative insecticide if you ask like at Home Depot, Lowes, your local Nursery, etc.

However, I have my own system. I attach a container to my yard hose and in that container I put about 1t (per gallon of water) liquid soap or dishwashing detergent, 1 t vegetable oil (so rain or water doesn't wash it away) and some will add 1 t cayenne pepper spray you can get at nurseries, Home Depot, etc. I spray this on maybe once a month or less often depending upon the rain we're having and it seems to work.

Answer 2

cutting the web out is the easier way... but doing it at the right time is key..... during the day, the worms are out eating leaves, not in the web... so wait until evening, after sundown, or on a very cloudy day after a rain, even.... the worms will have gone to the web for night protection or from the weather and then is when you get the most of them..... when you cut the branch off, do a little 'hat dance' on it and then bag and trash it....

those that you can't reach will just get to live on.... next year, tho, get after them earlier, while the nests are still lower down, and get them late in the day so fewer are left to go higher and start again.... give your trees the once over often, so you don't miss any.....

Answer 3

Have your trees professionally sprayed each year.