What's eating my prince of wales juniper?

Prince of Wales Juniper is most threatened by juniper scale and spider mites, which cause yellowing and dieback of the fine foliage. Bagworms can strip branches by late summer. Deer and rabbits may browse low-spreading stems in winter. Inspect regularly and act early — established plants recover slowly from heavy infestations.

Tiny white or gray circular crusts on stems and needles; foliage yellows and branches die back from tip inward. Apply horticultural oil in late winter before new growth, or insecticidal soap in early summer when crawlers are active. Remove heavily encrusted branches.

Spindle-shaped silk-and-foliage bags hanging from branches; needles stripped inside the bag, leaving bare brown twigs. Hand-pick bags in winter before eggs hatch. Spray Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) or spinosad on young caterpillars in late spring–early summer.

Fine webbing on inner branches; needles turn bronze or yellow, especially during hot dry spells. Blast foliage with a strong stream of water. Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; repeat every 5–7 days for three applications.

Browsed or gnawed branch tips and stems, most pronounced in winter when other food is scarce. Use physical barriers or deer-repellent sprays (containing putrescent egg solids); reapply after rain. Rabbit guards on stems when plants are young.