I have a Texas mountain laurel in front of my house next to our entry walkway and door. Caterpillars are eating new growth as soon as it appears. It’s becoming unsightly.
Earlier this year as it was happening, it made me consider who is my yard actually for. It was a fun exercise. A few weeks ago, I removed many caterpillars and transported them to the mountain laurel in my backyard and the front tree sprouted new growth which gave me optimism. Now, the caterpillars are back and the new growth is gone.
What should I do? How should I do it? What would you do?
by Kind-Bobcat-2708
5 Comments
BT kills them and is safe for the plant. I kill the caterpillars with my hands then spray the tree. Works well.
New growth is where you get blooms next Spring.
My **humble opinion** based on my **anecdotal experience** is that the overall tree will be fine in the long run, though you may lose some of the smaller branches. I’d let the bugs have their way with it unless you think it’s killing the whole tree. I’ve had younger trees that were a quarter of that size (and therefore less well established and hardy, theoretically) lose so many branches, I assumed they’d just die, but they bounced back just fine.
I would just plant other things they’re attracted to instead. It’s all a game of leading a horse to water
This is quite common but could also be a slight signal of weakness in the tree. I would mulch with a good carbon source like shredded leaves and dried molasses, water slowly and deep into the taproot. I’ve found blood meal/bat guano to make the new growth so strong to resist the sophora moths.