How to Kill Army Worms on Apple Trees
Army worms are the immature larva form of the cutworm moth. They can infest almost any type of tree or shrub but have a preference for vegetables and fruit trees. Most gardeners first notice the damage the worms cause before seeing the worms because they only come out at night. Army worm damage is easily identifiable by looking for apples that appear as if they have been eaten and leaves that have numerous holes in them. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Wait until nightfall and go out to where the apple trees are located. Turn on a flashlight and carefully inspect the leaves and fruit of the tree for tiny white worms that can be up to 1 1/2 inch long. It's important that you make sure the tree damage is really being caused by army worms and not some other type of insect.
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Remove all weeds, shrubs, grass and other foliage from the areas around the apple trees. Use a weed trimmer to remove all but the largest trees and shrubs. Use a chainsaw to remove those with thicker branches.
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Fill a garden sprayer with Neem oil which is available at home improvement stores and garden centers. Read the packaging requirements carefully and mix with water as instructed.
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Go out to the apple trees early in the morning just before or just after sunrise. Spray all of the leaves and the trunk of the apple trees with the Neem oil solution until the tree is saturated and the solution drips off of the leaves.
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Wait seven to ten days and check for signs of army worm activity. If new apple tree damage is seen, apply a second treatment of Neem oil.
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References
- Photo Credit apple on tree image by Rachwalski Andrzej from Fotolia.com
