Hybrid Poplar Trees Dropping Honeydew

S

spasm3

Joined
May 30, 2010
Messages
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Location
North Carolina
I'm sick of the honeydew that drips off these trees. All over the cars. Cannot remove it with anything other than acetone.
It's apparently due to aphids that love these trees.
It's so much, that I may cut these down and plant Japanese maples.
House faces west, they do provide good shade, but I can't deal with the mess.
I'm not willing to soak the ground around all four trees with insecticide every year. Apparently that's the only fix for this.
Red Japanese maples or maybe Cherokee brave dogwoods?

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Different but similar - had a blue spruce that was a bit too close to my house and it hung over my gate to the backyard. Not sure what was wrong with it but it would drop a ton of sap (way more than a normal spruce) and was especially bad in the spring. That resulted in a lot of sap on my shoes and on the dog’s paws. And then in the house. Had it removed last fall and I haven’t missed it once… so I feel your pain.
 
If, indeed those are hybrid poplar, they are very good looking ones. Probably 15 +/- years old? I am curious if you know what clone those are.

They are too tall to use more natural homeowner control methods - hosing off, horticultural oil, insecticidal soap, etc.. The insecticide you mention is probably imidacloprid. It's applied as a soil drench, is absorbed by the roots and acts as a systemic within the leaves to control the aphids. It can be a problem for pollinators on flowering trees, along with other precautions to know about.

Another treatment option is tree injection of systemic insecticide. This is available through arborists. There IS a homeowner version but I have no idea if it is legitimate: https://www.treehelp.com/products/m...1dzNCQGQM-UGQSEdAmbwa_ZlQfb6RtgAiHxhDT9MFLFpr. As always, it is your responsibility to learn and follow federal laws and labels. I am simply sharing options to explore.

If this is any solace, some hybrid poplar clones tend to be weak (prone to storm damage) and are relatively short lived in the tree world (30 - 50 years). They are sometimes planted as a quick filler, nurse tree to allow slower growing trees to get established, then taken out. No offense, but 4 trees in a line in front of your house doesn't quite look right to me. Trees should be placed to enhance the home, unless you are in a forested location with trees throughout the lawn. My opinion only.

Again, I'm not prescribing any pesticide solution, just sharing options. You might consider a hybrid solution - treat the trees for a year or two, while you plant some new ones and they get established. Then take out the poplars. Or, maybe leave just the two outer trees to frame the house, along with some new plantings? Also, confirm that any replacement tree species are not prone to aphids.
 
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they advertise them for shade around here, but they not that great other than growing fast...
 
ka9mnx said:
Poplar trees are dirty trees. I would never have them on my property.
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You are probably thinking of cottonwood trees which are in the populus genus and can produce seed "cotton" , etc.. Hybrid poplars are hybrids that do not produce seed. And yes, hybrid poplars are mis-marketed as super trees, etc.. Beware, but they can have good uses.

If interested, the University of Minnesota just released their version of the "super tree": https://innovatree.umn.edu/about-tree/fast-growing-tree
 
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I'd bite the bullet and cut them down. Have some fun with the saw and a splitting axe and have lots of camp fires. If you want the home cooling effects of shade and have no pitiful hoa paint your roof white. It's known to reduce temps by as much as 25f.
 
JavierH19 said:
I'd bite the bullet and cut them down. Have some fun with the saw and a splitting axe and have lots of camp fires. If you want the home cooling effects of shade and have no pitiful hoa paint your roof white. It's known to reduce temps by as much as 25f.
Click to expand...
Or radiant barrier ! Easy DIY in a decked attic …
 
4wd said:
Or radiant barrier ! Easy DIY in a decked attic …
Click to expand...
I imagine most homes had them within the last 25 years. This 19 year old home came with radiant barriers and it helps but still gets sweltering in the attic in the summer. My old home made in 81 i think didn't have them and was a bit hotter still.
 
JavierH19 said:
I imagine most homes had them within the last 25 years. This 19 year old home came with radiant barriers and it helps but still gets sweltering in the attic in the summer. My old home made in 81 i think didn't have them and was a bit hotter still.
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I don’t think tech shield plywood performs like mine - it’s double bubble double foil stapled to 2x6 rafters - that creates airflow vent skin to the ridge vents …
 
I don't know about a Japanese maple, but I can tell you that the silver and sugar maples near my driveway put sap on my cars from April - September.
 
doitmyself said:
If, indeed those are hybrid poplar, they are very good looking ones. Probably 15 +/- years old? I am curious if you know what clone those are.

They are too tall to use more natural homeowner control methods - hosing off, horticultural oil, insecticidal soap, etc.. The insecticide you mention is probably imidacloprid. It's applied as a soil drench, is absorbed by the roots and acts as a systemic within the leaves to control the aphids. It can be a problem for pollinators on flowering trees, along with other precautions to know about.

Another treatment option is tree injection of systemic insecticide. This is available through arborists. There IS a homeowner version but I have no idea if it is legitimate: https://www.treehelp.com/products/m...1dzNCQGQM-UGQSEdAmbwa_ZlQfb6RtgAiHxhDT9MFLFpr. As always, it is your responsibility to learn and follow federal laws and labels. I am simply sharing options to explore.

If this is any solace, some hybrid poplar clones tend to be weak (prone to storm damage) and are relatively short lived in the tree world (30 - 50 years). They are sometimes planted as a quick filler, nurse tree to allow slower growing trees to get established, then taken out. No offense, but 4 trees in a line in front of your house doesn't quite look right to me. Trees should be placed to enhance the home, unless you are in a forested location with trees throughout the lawn. My opinion only.

Again, I'm not prescribing any pesticide solution, just sharing options. You might consider a hybrid solution - treat the trees for a year or two, while you plant some new ones and they get established. Then take out the poplars. Or, maybe leave just the two outer trees to frame the house, along with some new plantings? Also, confirm that any replacement tree species are not prone to aphids.
Click to expand...
Thanks, yes i am going to resume raising bees, so the imidacloprid is just not what i want to purse.

I'm leaning toward Cherokee dogwoods, pretty, less issue with what i'm experiencing now.

I dont remember what type they are, just that they were hybrid poplar.
 
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I would cut them down and select either Pin Oaks, Black Oaks or Red Oaks.
Great trees, deep roots, solid wood only annoying thing is the Catkins at the start of the spring season. Acorns depend on the year, some years very little to none other years more...

If available I prefer black oak.
Chances are you wont live the life of the tree to see it at full maturity but as oaks mature you can trim them HIGH and have a beautiful canopy looking up towards the sky.

The two trees you mentioned, I would avoid dogwoods for sure. They have many times all kinds of problems. Insects/borers
Japanese Maples can be nice, as long as you're not looking for tall trees. Many Japanese maples will spread wide and stay low if that is the look you want, over time it will hide the house. They MAY develop surface roots over time.
 
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