Recognize insect trouble

Every plant hosts insects. Most are not a problem.

Look into control measures if you see signs of insect infestation that are costing the plant more than 20% of its leaf surface or coincide with severely restricted growth for more than a year or two.

Some signs of insect damage:

• Leaves chewed, scraped or mined.
• Leaves webbed together.
• Underside of leaf looks dirty, dusty or bears scruffy material.
• Twigs deformed.
• Bumps adhered to twigs.
• Upper surfaces of branches stained with sooty mold - dark fungal coating that grows on insect excrement.
• Regular size/shape holes in bark.
• Pecking bird damage to trunk or main limbs.