Wood Pecker Damage

Many customers see little holes in their trees and want to know what has happened.  Very often there is a hole from a squirrel, bird, or smaller insects.  It is important to identify what is happening with your tree so you can diagnose the appropriate treatment.              

There are many different kinds of holes to look at in your tree but some people don’t know what that hole means. Woodpecker damage typically can be seen as little holes creating a horizontal line across your tree.  When a woodpecker is looking for insects to eat, it will make lines of holes to find larva.  If you see only one or two holes it may be an infestation of insects and should be taken care of.  If you do have a lot of woodpecker activity, it typically means your tree is in decline.  The more stress that your tree has, the more likely you will have insect infestations.              

Deep root fertilizations will increase the nutrients to your tree which may be a factor of the decline.  The correct amount of water also has a huge effect on your tree’s health.  Sometimes it isn’t the tree; it is just an insect problem (EAB for example) and needs to be treated. Look at your tree often to see if anything looks odd and then if it does, have a professional inspect it.