Sick Sycamores Update

I spoke with some folks at Silverbelle Nursery and showed them a few leaves with insects. Their take was that the very hot, windy and dry summer has stressed everything, us included (well, you guys anyway). Even if the trees had ample water, their leaves would have looked bad. The stress then allows insects to take hold, like the mites our trees have, further stressing them. They suggest doing nothing now as the trees will go dormant (if it ever gets cool) and lose their leaves; but come spring, be vigilant about watering and watch for the critters and if they show, take action by spraying with soapy water followed by a rinse. Repeat as necessary. The ground's crew had found and fixed a drip valve that was hampering water delivery, so that should be less of an issue, but I think ancillary, deep hand watering, as it becomes hot and dry, will help them get established, finding their way down to more reliable water and so become much healthier trees.