How to Control Worms on Poplar Trees

Control worms on your poplar tree.

Worms are never welcome on any tree. The poplar tree is not immune to their infestations. Most of the time, it is easy to rid the tree of worms without the use of pesticides or insecticides. The number of bagworms increases rapidly in a short amount of time. They are often in a silken bag that has leaves, bark and other debris inside. Since bagworms are easy to spot, you can rid your tree of them before they can do much damage. Bagworms attack at least 88 different species of trees from New England to Nebraska.

Things You'll Need

• Box or garbage bag
• Pruning shears
• Insecticides

Instructions

1. Check your poplar tree for spindle-shaped bags. The web-like bags can cover entire branches of poplar trees. Inside the bag are the larvae feeding on the tender parts of leaves. As the larvae grow, so does the bag.

2. Remove the bags with a stick if they are small. If you are not squeamish, you can use your hand and squish them. If some worms escape, birds will usually eat them. You can also open the sack with a stick, if you find the bagworms in the fall. The eggs and larvae of the worms will feed beneficial insects and birds.

3. Hit the low-hanging webs with a stick. This will knock the worms off the branch. Make sure you have a box or garbage bag underneath the tree to catch them. This will make disposal easier.

4. Prune the branch off with pruning shears if it will not harm the looks of your tree. This is done if the bags are large. Once you remove the branch, squash and destroy the web sack and worms inside. Another alternative is to burn the branch once it is off the tree.

5. If the problem persists, apply insecticide. The bags must be torn open to expose all the worms. The spray cannot penetrate through the webbing and you will only be taking care of part of the problem.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not spray insecticides on a windy day. The wind can blow the insecticides onto other parts of the plant. Instead of killing the worms, you may harm your tree or yourself.

• Read the label on the insecticide of your choice for more precautions. In addition, you can talk to the sales representative at a garden supply center and they can suggest which brand may work the best for your area.

References

• EnvironmentSensitive.com: Fall Webworms
• New Mexico State University: Fall Webworm Problems
• RealGreenLawn.com: Pecan Webworms