Holiday Tree Pest Prevention Tips

Did you know that there are up to 25,000 insects living in your Christmas tree, which can breed and multiply long after your tree is completely removed from your house?

The thousands of bugs that typically live in Christmas trees include spiders and mites, aphids, aeglids, scale insects, bark beetles, praying mantes, and sawflies – all carrying a multitude of diseases and germs with them. While you may have had  “visions of sugar plums dancing in your heads” this holiday season – there could have been eggs hatching and bugs multiplying throughout your home – leaving a major bug infestation to deal with in the months after the holidays are over – or at least until treated.

There’s nothing that compares to the fresh pine scent and the beauty of a decorated tree, which is why most people love to keep their tree up long after the holidays have passed.  This is fine to do, but it’s extremely important to follow these precautions to avoid a pest infestation!

• Your tree will continuously drop needless, branches, debris, and even live bugs, especially as it starts to become dry, so always have your vacuum at the ready. Be sure to remove the vacuum cleaner bag after use and place the contents into a trash bag in a closed outdoor trash can.
• Continuously inspect your tree with a flashlight to look for tiny bugs, egg masses, and nests. 
• Have an expert carefully inspect for bugs that are invisible to the naked eye.  
• Dust your tree with an insect powder that's free of synthetic chemicals. Whatever you do, don’t use bug sprays, which are flammable near a tree, especially the aerosol sprays! 
• Keep a tree bag at your tree’s base to provide the easiest clean-up for when it’s time to remove your tree. 

It is our hope that this information is helpful in facilitating a less stressful holiday season for you and your family!