When the oak trees on your property become infested with galls, these growths are caused by gouty oak gall wasps. As they build their nests and grow their larvae, these growths will grow and cause irreparable damage to your trees if something is not done about them.
While there is no cure for the disease, it can be significantly slowed down when treated by a professional. Below are a couple of reasons why you should hire a tree service to treat your trees infected with gouty oak gall.
1. They Know Where and How Much to Prune to Remove the Infested Branches Without Damaging the Trees
One reason why you should have a professional treat your oak trees after finding galls on them is that the first thing that needs to be done is to remove as many of the infested branches as possible. However, if you attempt to prune back the trees yourself, you may end up taking off too much, which would harm the already compromised trees.
However, a professional will analyze the locations of the growths and decide where and how much should be cut off. They have the knowledge and experience to know the amount that can be removed without hurting the trees while getting rid of as many growths as possible.
2. They Have Access to Professional-grade Chemicals That May Repel and Reduce the Numbers of the Wasps and Their Larvae
Another reason why a professional tree service should be called in to treat your trees is that they have access to professional-grade chemicals that you do not. Most over-the-counter treatments that you may find will do little to curb or stop the infestation of the wasps and their larvae.
However, a tree service may have access to chemicals that may repel the wasps and reduce their numbers as well as their larvae. They also may be able to obtain experimental solutions that show promise in killing gouty oak gall wasps.
When you find out that your oak trees are covered in gouty oak galls, they need to be properly pruned by a professional to remove the infested branches without hurting or killing the trees. And, while there is no way to completely eradicate the wasp infestation causing the galls, professionals do have access to chemicals that can reduce their numbers, repel the wasps, and slow the growth rate of their larvae. Contact a tree service that deals with gouty oak gall to schedule a time for them to inspect your trees to see what needs to be done to treat them.
Share13 January 2023
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