Tree & Shrub Pest Control

Trees and shrubs are long-lived perennials that play a critical role in landscaping yards and urban environments. When infested by pests such as aphids, mites, scale insects, or caterpillars, their ability to grow, flower, or provide shade and shelter can be severely compromised. Biological control helps restore balance by keeping pest populations in check while supporting long-term plant vitality.

One major advantage of biocontrol is its compatibility with pollinators and native beneficial insects. Unlike many chemical treatments that can harm non-target organisms or leave behind residues, biological agents are species-specific and degrade naturally. This makes them especially valuable in ornamental and public landscapes, where safety and aesthetics are priorities. In commercial nurseries and garden centers, biocontrol also supports sustainable production practices and can even improve plant marketability by reducing visible pesticide residues.

In addition, using biological control for trees and shrubs helps prevent resistance build-up. Many pests, especially those that reproduce quickly like aphids or spider mites, can develop resistance to synthetic pesticides over time. Biological agents, on the other hand, use complex, evolving interactions to suppress pest populations, making it much harder for resistance to develop. Whether you're managing a backyard, urban park, or a nursery, integrating biocontrol into your IPM (Integrated Pest Management) strategy contributes to healthier plants, safer environments, and more resilient ecosystems.

Monitoring

Regularly inspect trees and shurbs during the growing season for early signs of pest activity or damage. Begin by visually examining the upper and lower surfaces of leaves, stems, and branch junctions for common indicators such as webbing, frass (insect droppings), holes, wilting, or discoloration. Pay close attention to new growth and the undersides of leaves, where pests like aphids, mites, and whiteflies often hide. On the bark of the trees and shrubs, check for scale insects or bore holes that may indicate internal feeders. Scouting should be done weekly during the growing season and more frequently if pest pressures are high, as early detection allows for more targeted and effective control.

Box Tree Moth Control

Box Tree Moth Control Products	Preventative	Elimination	Repeat Applications	Not
Buxatrap	1 trap per 180 square meters	1 trap per 30 square meters	Leave traps up from May until the end of November (dependent on geographic location). Add new pheromones to the traps every 8 weeks.	Dispensers release a species-specific sex pheromone, which lures the males of box tree moths into the trap. Once in the trap, they cannot escape and are easy to detect, count and identify. Trapping males aids in reducing the number of eggs laid by females, as they fail to mate.
Pherodis Cydalima perspectalis	1 Buxatrap per 180 square meters	1 Buxatrap per 30 square meters	Leave traps up from May until the end of November (dependent on geographic location). Add new pheromones to the traps every 8 weeks.	Dispensers release a species-specific sex pheromone, which lures the males of box tree moths into the trap. Once in the trap, they cannot escape and are easy to detect, count and identify. Trapping males aids in reducing the number of eggs laid by females, as they fail to mate.
Capsanem	n/a	500,000 per meter square	Re-apply weekly when caterpillars are found on the plants	Nematodes will enter the pest larvae and release symbiotic bacteria into the body cavity. This bacteria converts the larval tissue into a food source, on which the nematodes feed, develop and reproduce. The host pest dies within a few hours to days after infection.

Aphid Control

Aphid Control Products	Preventative	Elimination	Repeat Applications	Notes
Chrysopa-L	n/a	50 insects per square meter	Weekly or bi-weekly as needed	Only apply once aphids are present on the plants. Aphids are extremely difficult to eradicate using biologicals only.
Aphidalia	n/a	1 bag per 25 cm stem diameter, maximum 3 bags per tree.	Weekly or bi-weekly as needed	Only apply once aphids are present on the plants. Aphids are extremely difficult to eradicate using biologicals only. Product has a 10-14 day lead time. Email [email protected] to purchase this product.

Leaf Miner Control

Leaf Miner Control Products	Preventative	Elimination	Repeat Applications	Notes
Miglyphus	n/a	2 per square meter	Weekly or bi-weekly as needed	Adult female Diglyphus isaea kill second and third instar leaf miner larvae in the mine and lay their eggs next to them. The eggs develop into parasitic wasps inside the mine (but outside the leaf miner), using the dead larvae as food. Adult females also host feed.

Scale Control

Scale Control Products	Preventative	Elimination	Repeat Applications	Note
Cryptobug-L	n/a	50 insects per square meter	Weekly or bi-weekly as needed	Product mimics the look of mealybugs. Works best on Brown Soft Scale. If you have armoured scale, use Rhyzobug.
Rhyzobug	n/a	1-50 insects per square meter	Weekly or bi-weekly as needed	Rhyzobius lophanthae feeds on all stages of armored scale. Small scales are consumed entirely. In larger scales, feeding damage is visible as irregular holes in the scale cover. This product has a 10-14 day lead time. Email [email protected] to place your order.

Mite Control

Mite Control Products	Preventative	Elimination	Repeat Applications	Notes
Spical Ulti-Mite	One sachet per plant	2-4 sachets per plant	Every 4 weeks	Our top generalist predatory mite that targets all life stages of pest mites, including the Spruce Spider Mite—a frequent problem in trees and shrubs. Apply directly on plants affected or are known to be damaged by mites each year.

Caterpillar Control

Caterpillar Control Products	Preventative	Elimination	Repeat Applications	Notes
Capsanem	n/a	500,000 per square meter	Weekly or bi-weekly as needed	Ony apply once you see the caterpillars on the leaves.