Pest identification
What's eating my winter gold mugo pine?
Pine sawfly (Diprion spp.)
Signs: Needles eaten from tips; bare straw-coloured branches after larval feeding in late spring and early summer
Control: Spinosad spray when larvae are small; hand removal on compact shrubs; check undersides of needles for egg slits in winter
Pine needle scale (Chionaspis pinifoliae)
Signs: Dense white scale encrustation on needles; foliage loses vigour and colour
Control: Dormant horticultural oil in late winter; summer oil or insecticidal soap at crawler hatch
Deer
Signs: Foliage browsed from the top; branch tips snapped; bark rubbed by antlers in autumn
Control: Deer repellent spray reapplied after rain; physical netting or fencing during the first few growing seasons
Keep winter gold mugo pine pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Winter Gold Mugo Pine pests — FAQ
What is eating my winter gold mugo pine?
Winter Gold Mugo Pine attracts the same suite of conifer pests as other mugos. Pine sawfly is the primary threat, capable of stripping needles rapidly. Pine needle scale and Cinara aphids are also common. Deer occasionally browse the foliage. Monitor needles each spring before larvae mature.
How do I get rid of pine sawfly (diprion spp.) on winter gold mugo pine?
Needles eaten from tips; bare straw-coloured branches after larval feeding in late spring and early summer Spinosad spray when larvae are small; hand removal on compact shrubs; check undersides of needles for egg slits in winter
How do I get rid of pine needle scale (chionaspis pinifoliae) on winter gold mugo pine?
Dense white scale encrustation on needles; foliage loses vigour and colour Dormant horticultural oil in late winter; summer oil or insecticidal soap at crawler hatch
How do I get rid of deer on winter gold mugo pine?
Foliage browsed from the top; branch tips snapped; bark rubbed by antlers in autumn Deer repellent spray reapplied after rain; physical netting or fencing during the first few growing seasons