Growing up, our family always had a live Christmas tree. I LOVE a live Christmas Tree!! Its bold scent filled the living room and warmed my heart for the holidays as much as the lights, decorations, and stockings did. Every year in mid November, we would all bundle up and travel to a Christmas tree farm. Dad would carry his saw, Mom with a pair of heavy scissors and we kids would run ahead pointing at different trees. Once a potential pine had been located, the family would gather ’round and inspect it for proper height, shape, and girth while noting any thinning spots or deformations in its branches. Upon a mutually agreed choice, (Mom always had final say), Dad would set to work with his saw while Mom would trim any unruly lower branches. I had always thought this was where the phrase “trimming the tree” had come from. Apparently it did not but it made perfect sense to me at the time – but I digress! On with my story…
Once the tree had been cut down, Dad would always grab the base and give it several hard shakes dislodging any loose needles and bugs. Once, an abandoned bird’s nest had fallen from inside the branches. We were all amazed and brought the small nest back with us. Getting the tree back was no easy feat. When we got home, Dad would snip the netting and cut the base to fit into our tree stand. He would then carefully measure and clip the top to fit the star which would adorn the crown.
The next step was accomplished with a spray bottle of water followed by a final shake to get rid of any excess wetness and loosened needles. The spraying was explained to us that it brought out the pine scent, which it DID. What purposefully was not divulged to us was the fact that spraying it with water would hopefully also dislodge any “creepy crawlies” that may have taken up residence in the tree.
The chances of finding pests in your purchased live Christmas tree are actually nominal, but just like purchasing vegetables for your table, precautions should be taken. GOOD NEWS – any bugs that may inhabit evergreens are harmless, don’t bite, nor destroy structures.
Question 1: Why would pests be in my tree? Answer: Some bugs actually live in the tree; others have taken shelter for the colder months and a few lay eggs meant to hatch in the spring.
Question 2: What should I do if I find some bugs in my fresh-cut Christmas tree? Answer: First and Foremost…DO NOT USE INSECTICIDES! These can harm your family and pets and possibly the tree. There are effective and earth friendly options to combat critters – 1. Use a vacuum with an attachment (remember to empty the bag outside afterward) 2. Use a strong spray bottle with water and paper towel 3. In an extreme case, such as a large aphid colony, just clip off the affected branch and dispose of outside.
Question 3: What pests should I expect at Christmas-time Answer: Typically in our area, when the weather cools, rodents will find your home WARM and INVITING. Make sure to keep any of your holiday food treats, as well as all other food, in sealed containers. Mice find chocolate as tantalizing as cheese and who doesn’t like Christmas cookies? In your LIVE Christmas tree especially, APHIDS may be hiding. They are very small insects, under 1/8″. They have a pear shaped tick-like appearance and range in color from green, yellow, black, to red. It’s unlikely you will find a lone aphid as they prefer to congregate in clumps in large numbers. They feed on the tree’s sap and produce a honey-like substance. Aphids cause needle drops but can easily be removed with a spray bottle / paper towel. SPIDERS may make themselves an issue if other bugs are in your home. The remedy for all spiders is either catch them and take them outside or give Holistic Pest Solutions a call.
We at Holistic Pest Solutions hope you have a wonderful holiday and, whether you love a LIVE Christmas Tree or not, if you need help controlling pests in your home, contact the experts at Holistic Pest Solutions. Our stink bug control services are developed specifically with your family and pets in mind. Holistic Pest Solutions serves Charlottesville, Keswick, Ivy, Crozet, Hollymead, Earlysville, Afton, Waynesboro, Fishersville, and Staunton as well as the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna and Augusta in the State of Virginia. CONTACT US today.
*Our Environmental Commitment: Holistic Pest Solutions is committed to the preservation of our environment. Our goal is to nurture the soils and plant life of lawns and landscapes. Utilizing holistic pest control practices that cause the least amount of impact on the environment.
