Christmas Tree Scouting Report July 10, 2025

Weekly scouting report compiled by Kelly Piccioni, Penn State Extension, Schuylkill County. This week's scouting data contributors: Kelly Piccioni, Penn State Extension, Don deMackiewicz, Sarah Pickel and Cathy Thomas (PDA), Jim Fogarty (Schuylkill County), Rick Geissler (Berks County), Gerrit Strathmeyer II (Adams and York County)

Pest Information 

Hopefully, growers took some time to enjoy the holiday weekend!  Shearing season is probably in full swing on your farms.  This is a great time to scout damage to trees that need to be treated in the spring. Flag trees and make a note for next season's control.  Feel free to snap pictures and send them my way to keg200@psu.edu if you have any questions or concerns.  We had a few growers' messages about the Canaan Fir last week.  We believe it to be botrytis blight at this point, and not much to really do but to practice those sanitation techniques when shearing. Because new pest activity hits a lull in the month of July, this will be the last regular scouting report of the growing season. There will be a few special updates on the 2nd generation of Cryptomeria scale in August. 

Needle casts

Don deMackiewicz, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, shared Swiss Needle cast fruiting bodies were easy to see on the older growth. The fruiting bodies of Swiss needle cast do not dry up and turn black like those of Rhabdocline needle cast when the sporulation period is done. This February-early March will be the time to see if your management practices were effective. 

Elongated Hemlock Scale

Remember to continue to scout periodically through the season for the presence of elongate hemlock scale crawlers on lower, interior branches of host trees (true firs, Douglas-fir, hemlocks, and spruces). The oval-shaped, yellow crawlers will be found around the female scales (oblong and brown) and male scales (white and fuzzy). The typical recommended control series (based on Penn State research) is to make 3 insecticide applications, beginning at the start of crawlers and spaced with 4 weeks between each spray, or to make 4 applications spaced with 3 weeks between each spray. Many growers have found that a single application of the chemical spirotetramat (Movento) has been effective. 

Douglas Fir Needle Midge Damage 

Something that growers may be noticing now as they are out mowing or shearing is Douglas-fir needle midge damage. As the needles of the new growth harden off, the yellowed gall area of infested needles becomes more noticeable. While nothing can be done at this point in the season to save the kinked needles, it’s a good idea to mark trees that are infested with flagging tape. Emergence traps can be placed under these trees next season.  These traps help to pinpoint the earliest emergence of adult midge from the ground underneath previously infested trees. Trapping occurs close to bud break and helps growers time control applications.

Pine Needle Scale

For growers who have had an issue with controlling pine needle scale, there will be another chance to control it in July.  The crawlers of this hard scale pest of pines had settled several weeks ago and have matured. They will lay eggs at the beginning of July. Later in the month, the eggs will hatch, and 2nd generation crawlers will move out from under the scale coverings to settle on new needles. If this scale population is heavy and was not controlled during the 1st generation, an insecticide or horticultural oil application can be made when the brick red crawlers emerge. A repeat application may be necessary 7 - 10 days later.

Spruce Spider Mites

Spruce spider mites are still active across the mid-state, in Lebanon, Berks, Schuylkill and York Counties where scouting reports have indicated.  Growers should still be monitoring population levels, as spider mite population numbers can increase rapidly in warm weather, which increases reproductive rates. Another miticide application may be necessary to prevent damage to new foliage.  Many growers are adding Envidor to their Movento applications for scale. 

Sunburn Douglas Fir Update

Growers have sheared sun-damaged Douglas Fir, and the results are promising. Some trees that were heavily burned will require more time to recover and may not hit the market this year.  After brushing the branches with light damage, most of the dried needles fell. With more time and growth, this tree has the ability to recover on time. The top picture shows sun damage prior to brushing off needles. 

Below, after brushing off some of the dried needles.  With more time, more needles will fall and the tree will push more growth. 

Growers will reassess in early fall to determine if the tree will be cut this year or given another year for recovery. Luckily, most growers who experienced damage only had pockets and not a widespread issue. 

Cone Update on Fraser Fir 

In early spring, we observed a grower treating pinecones with Axxe prior to bud break to kill the cones on Fraser Fir. Most of the remaining cones will fall off when they go through the shaker or the baler. 

We look forward to seeing and meeting new faces at the Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers Association Summer Meeting in August. Visit PA Christmas Tree Growers Association to get information. Kelly will be speaking about scouting and sharing more about our reports! The scouting team welcomes feedback for our first growing season back in action!  Please share any thoughts you may have so we can continue to serve you best! Email Kelly Piccioni at keg200@psu.edu! 

Enjoy July and check back in August for updates about the second generation of cryptomeria scale!