What's eating my greek fir?

Greek Fir is most threatened by the balsam woolly adelgid and various bark beetles. Deer may browse young trees, and aphids can cluster on new growth. Inspect for woolly white deposits on bark and sticky honeydew on needles. Healthy, well-sited trees resist most pests naturally.

White woolly deposits on bark and branch nodes; swollen gouting at nodes; crown dieback and eventual tree death in severe infestations Apply horticultural oil or insecticidal soap to bark in late winter/early spring; remove and destroy heavily infested branches; no fully effective biological control yet available

Small entry holes in bark with sawdust-like frass; pitch tubes on trunk; galleries under bark cause branch dieback and whole-tree mortality under drought stress Maintain tree vigor through watering during drought; remove and chip infested wood promptly; preventive pyrethroid bark sprays for high-value specimen trees

Sticky honeydew coating needles; sooty mold blackens foliage; yellowing and needle drop on new growth; ant activity around infested shoots Blast colonies off with a strong water jet; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage natural predators such as lacewings and ladybirds