So sorry to hear this. I have to deal with them too. They snack on a lot, but they never touch my magnolias or my redbud trees. The state program to release a predator for the wintermoth (the same as controlled outbreaks in Canada years ago) is making good progress, if that's any comfort. Populations of the predator fly have been established in Wellesley and are moving outward from there.

As I'm planting new trees, I would like to know what trees are resistant to Winter Moth.

I'd love to know too! They eat my: Japanese maple, cherry tree, oak tree, Norway maple, roses and peonies so far! I didn't think they went after stuff that dies down to the ground every year, but I was wrong :( They haven't touch my lilac or lavender bushes. I wish they would take out my boxwoods because I would love a good excuse to get rid of them! Last year they didn't touch my Japanese maple, but this year it's utter destruction.

I live in the midst of a major infestation of longstanding in Arlington they haven't touched these trees/shrubs: Cercis canadensis (redbud), Magnolia virginiana, Magnolia 'Leonard Messell', Hamamelis virginiana (native witchhazel).

I lost a young Japanese Maple to the caterpillars last year. It was the second year it had been devoured by them and just couldn't handle the stress. I wanted to buy another JM this year but I feel like I'd just be buying a snack for the caterpillars. They also ate the leaves off my my young River birches but the leaves did grow back. This year I'm spraying my birch trees with Captain Jack's Dead Bug Brew. I normally don't use any pesticides but I refuse to lose any more trees.

I just planted a ton of peonies and two Knock Out roses. Looks like we are all in for a battle this year.

My Japanese Maple is huge - 25 years old and I'm so, so sad to see it being devoured. It looked like this last year...

I'm too depressed to even take a photo this year :(

My sympathies Suzabanana - I grow organically too, and I never use sprays. We've had winter moth infestations for years. They have done a lot of damage to two mature maples on the property. The leaves always recover, but I have noticed in the last two years, that I have a lot of dead branches if I stand under the trees and look up. I'm not too sad about my back Maple, because it had a very dense top and the amount of foliage on the tree now, is more to my liking.

That winter we had the 100+ inches of snow, seemed to really knock back the winter moth population and I had a significant drop in damage that next spring. So far this season, I haven't noticed how many are around.

They do drop off the large mature Maples onto anything under them and in years when the population was high, what a mess! I had two young Amelanchier trees that were ruined three years in a row and I ended up removing them. I do think location is relevant. I have roses but they are out in the open away from the trees and I don't notice more than minor damage.

I do pay attention to making sure everything gets significant amounts of water to help them recover.

As for aphids, I have found that I now have a population of lady bugs that will quickly take care of aphids. I look at it that if I leave the aphids alone, they are an attractant to lady bugs. As soon as I see aphids, I leave them and a few weeks later, I can't find them any more and I'll see some lady bugs. But - if you have one particular plant that is getting major damage, I would try a home made spray. I've mixed up garlic, red crushed pepper flakes and a drop or two of dishwashing liquid, in a blender or food processor, use some cheesecloth to strain it into a spray bottle and spray the plant. That should make a difference.

I'm glad to hear that the experiment in Wellesley is working, but I wish since they know it is working that they would increase the number of locations that they are releasing them.

I will add my woes, although I don't see insects or other suspects yet. My
very old beloved dwarf flowering crab, which annually provides a beautiful
frame for my veg. garden pictures as well as my bluebird boxes, has suffered. Just a fringe of leaves here and there. Should be in full magnificent bloom this
week. Here's the comparison with last year's:

Waaah,

Susan

Sorry to see such a difference from one far to the next. Hope it can recover and be back to normal next year. Keeping it watered may help.