Cankerworm tree glue shortage gets help with big donation in Charlotte
TreesCharlotte, a local nonprofit organization committed to maintaining and expanding the tree canopy of Charlotte, is distributing 200 pounds of donated Tree Tanglefoot Insect Barrier to area residents Saturday.
Female cankerworms lay eggs in the late fall in tree branches where in the spring hatching caterpillars feed on emerging leaves, weakening trees and making them more susceptible to stress, drought and disease.
Tanglefoot, a tree-banding material designed to trap fall cankerworms, is in extremely limited supply this year. The product is difficult to find after the manufacturer went out of business in May.
“Tree banding in Charlotte is an important part of stewarding our urban forest,” said Dave Cable, executive director, TreesCharlotte. “We are delighted to provide a necessary product that is in short supply.”
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company acquired the Tanglefoot brand and plans to have production running in 2016. Their donation to TreesCharlotte is designed as a goodwill gesture to help the residents of Charlotte, officials said.
Residents will receive enough Tanglefoot to band 3 to 4 large trees, according to Cable. Approximately 100 packages of Tanglefoot will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.
Details: Free Tanglefoot distribution. Sat. 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. TreesCharlotte, 701 Tuckaseegee Road., Charlotte. More information:http://treescharlotte.org/.
Michael J. Solender, correspondent
This story was originally published November 13, 2015 at 11:54 AM with the headline "Cankerworm tree glue shortage gets help with big donation in Charlotte."