Ladybug Arborists

06/17/2026

dealing with suckering roots of an apple tree after it was removed last year. despite having the stump
ground, some trees are prone to send out shoots when the roots become distressed. This is very common in fruit bearing trees, including Schubert chokecherry, ornamental, apples, mayday trees, and mountain ash. The other culprit is anything in the Poplar family

Despite spraying the new shoots with a herbicide that is suited for broadleaf w**ds, the client was not having any luck managing this new forest that was erupting in their lawn. I was able to remove and number of the scaffold roots. I thought it would be interesting to share with you.

What’s going on? When the roots starve, they need food from leaves, they’ll automatically generate a chemical signal that causes new shoots to grow off the roots. Since most root systems are quite shallow removing them is relatively easy. It’s a matter of cutting the lawn open, following the trail of sprouts and then folding the lawn back over with a little topsoil.

just use common sense we don’t wanna prune off all the large roots on a living tree cause you may result in some instability and again trees need roots to survive and roots. Need leaves to survive.

06/16/2026

Elm Zigzag Sawfly (Aproceros leucopoda) Another insect we need to know about and keep out of Alberta.

The Elm Zigzag Sawfly is an invasive insect native to Asia that eats the leaves of elm trees. It is monitored by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) after being first discovered in North America in 2020. In 2025 it was found for the first time in Winnipeg. It gets its name from the unique, back-and-forth pattern the larvae leave behind as they chew through the leaves.

https://inspection.canada.ca/en/plant-health/invasive-species/insects/elm-zigzag-sawfly/fact-sheet
CFIA Elm Zigzag Sawfly Reporting Page
More information on this pest can be found on the plant pest cards page. Cards can be printed for your convenience.

How to Identify It
Zigzag feeding pattern: Larvae carve a distinct "zigzag" trace between the leaf veins.
Larval stage: Tiny, legless, whitish or green caterpillars up to 8 mm in length.
Adult stage: Small, shiny black flying insects about 6 to 7 mm long with banded wings.
Cocoons: Found on the underside of leaves and enclosed in a loose, net-like mesh.
Impact on Trees
Feeds exclusively on elm tree species.
Can complete 3 to 4 generations per year, leading to rapid population growth.
Heavy infestations can cause severe defoliation, stressing the tree.
While it does not spread Dutch elm disease directly, stressed trees are much more vulnerable to the disease and other pests.
Where It Is Found
First discovered in Sainte-Martine, Quebec in 2020.
Has since spread into eastern Ontario, the Greater Toronto Area, and confirmed by CFIA in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 2025.
Also widespread in parts of the United States.
Prevention and control https://inspection.canada.ca/en/plant-health/invasive-species/insects/elm-zigzag-sawfly/fact-sheet
Aproceros leucopoda is a strong flier and can disperse locally. It is known to move by human-assisted means via plants for planting and hitch-hiking. Cocoons can be found on twigs and leaves; larvae or pupae may be associated with roots and soil.
At this time, raising public awareness of the risk of moving infested elm material is essential to help control and limit the spread of A. leucopoda in Canada. Elm trees can be infested with all life stages of the sawfly. Maintaining tree vigour and health, and a diversity of tree species (that is, avoiding monocultures) is one of the best methods to reduce and control infestations of elm zigzag sawfly.
Reporting the Pest
If you suspect you have spotted the insect or its characteristic leaf damage and to help determine the extent of its distribution, the CFIA is encouraging the public and all stakeholders to submit samples of any suspect pests they observe on elm trees to their local CFIA office. Suspect sightings can also be reported to the CFIA Elm Zigzag Sawfly Reporting Page
This information will assist in evaluating the extent of the infested area and the threat posed by this pest and will help direct the next steps for Canada.

Background The zigzag elm sawfly, Aproceros leucopoda Takeuchi, 1939, is an insect pest that feeds on elms (Ulmus spp.) during its larval stages and can cause severe defoliation damage. It is an invasive species that reproduces parthenogenetically and can produce up to 4 generations per year in te.....

06/15/2026

06/15/2026

start watching for these devils on cherry, plum and hawthorn.

 Pear slug is still active on plum and cherry trees this year. If you spot the slimy devil, pick the leaves off and throw them in your garbage because we don’t want them to reproduce and bring another generation next season.  They’re also fond of Hawthorne leaves

06/13/2026

take a walk in the woods this weekend.

06/12/2026

we removed a tree for a customer recently. they decided to get the stump turned into a fairy house. i think it turned out fabulous. don’t you agree. sheila is going to add a few more flowers to finish it off.

06/12/2026

Every year around my birthday, I schedule my annual physical exam. This ensures that, while I may be feeling good, my doctor can run basic diagnostic tests and monitor subtle changes from year to year. Anything abnormal gets a further look.

06/11/2026

You had a great flowering season this year. Your tree was a buzz with pollinators. Now you face decisions on what to do with all of that potential fruit that they’ve created.

Thinning fruit, just like you would thin carrots within a row, will improve the yield that you’ll get. By late June you should see clusters of baby apples, pears, cherries or plums. You simply pluck a couple from each bundle or you can remove entire groups off of one area and leave another. see picture.

Generally speaking, the idea is to remove some of the fruit when it’s small so the tree can focus all of its energy creating a super delicious crop at harvest. If you leave the fruit till later in the season, you risk getting small fruit that lacks flavor. The overall load that they create can cause huge strain on the branches which can result in damage or breakage. Pears can be especially burdened if spur pruning is not part of your regimen. so much easier to toss onto your compost than shovel tons later. your friends avoid your offers to come ‘help yourself’.

For ornamental fruit trees, where crab apples do t even offer food grade fruit; pruning in midsummer is one way we attempt to reduce the volume of fruit for our clients. it also has the surprising benefit that the regrowth is slower than had it been pruned in the winter therefore, it maintains it form a little bit longer.
I
Target, the fruit when it’s about the size of a marble and easily identified. Check for any misshapen or possibly bruised or hail damaged product. Thin the baby apples so that you have one or two apples every six inches apart or the branch. B Seen etter to do when little that wait until they litter your lawn. Less is more. bigger, tastier, almost no waste. your tree will thank you.

right photo courtesy of orchard notes.

06/10/2026

getting ready to list the house for sale. curb appeal will invite more views. we took out 4 dead trees and a few old unhappy shrubs too.

from this to that with a few hours of hard work lifting stones so we could w**d this rock garden. a few plants added and rocks replaced we were able to bring back to its original glory.

do you need yard staging? we can help.