Hemlocks turning brown
 

There has been very noticeable die back of hemlocks since last fall. I think it is caused by an aphid. Very surprised at how quickly it has occurred in our area of Moultonborough Neck. Has anyone had any luck with insect sprays or ground treatment? Would appreciate any advice that can help protect these trees. Once a tree starts to turn brown near the top, is it a lost cause or can it still be saved with treatment?

Do you or did you see any white cotton like stuff on the tree? That would indicate the adelgid.

Info on adelgid: http://na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/pest_al/hemlock/hwa05.htm

R2B

Lost a beauty 2 yrs. ago....damn bugs!

root treatment works
 

I've had good luck treating the roots using the Bayer adelgid treatment. You have to catch it before the tree turns brown though. I keep a good scan of all the hemlocks on my property for signs of the darned things. The tree usually gives you some signs it's in trouble before it's too late.

My trees had adelgids visible before treatment, gone after treatment. It may take treating 2 years in a row to completely eradicate, but the treatment definitely kills the adelgids and reverses the spread.

Brown hemlocks
 

My association had a number of hemlocks that turned brown. The 'feel good directors' request to have them all cut down even though the tree experts says the trees are healthy and it is common for them to turn brown every few years.

Yes, please check for parasites as noted above.

Woolly Adeligid
 

Bad Stuff!

I have a pal who has a tree business. Last year he did a job at my neighbors house and noted a white fuzz under the needles of a hemlock. He said that it was woolly adelgid and it was a real problem.

The tree is on Braun Bay and he said that it was the first time that he has seen it in NH. He also said that in Conn. it wiped out whole forests of hemlocks.

It most probably came here from a southern NE state in firewood and spreads fast. It travels by birds from tree to tree and can kill the plant.

I noticed that we had a big blow down of trees on Moultonborough neck 20 years ago and it grew in with hemlocks. I noticed this week that their branches are bare.

My friend said that it can be treated by spraying it with an oil spray but it is not cost effective.

I wish that I had some good news. Sorry.

Misty Blue

Imho...
 

Hemlocks will "race" White Pines to replace land that have been "disturbed" through bulldozing, fire, clearing, or forests "harvested" for firewood.

I have plenty of Hemlocks, and I've noticed that a few of their branches will "normally" turn brown every season. (I wouldn't miss them if they'd died off).

Replacing them with fast-growing White Pines around the lake would likely reduce the silt (from runoff) that milfoil prefers to take root in.