Trees add an undeniable brilliant source of life and color to a landscape. Regardless of the species or variety, it will enhance your home’s curb appeal to make it more attractive. But trees are also prone to injury from pests, including the woodpecker (Picidae family).
Using their strong bills, woodpeckers will drill their way into a tree for the purpose of extracting food. The holes left behind allow bacteria, mold, and other pests to enter the tree, killing it from the inside out.
So, what can you to protect your trees from woodpeckers?
You might be wondering why woodpeckers are trying to dig their way into your tree in the first place. After all, they don’t feast on wood.
Well, trees may harbor grubs or other insects inside them, offering an ideal meal for a hungry woodpecker. The woodpecker will knock its sharp, narrow beak against the tree’s bark until it creates a sizable hole through which it can extract any nearby insects.
Use Bird Netting
The good news is that you can protect your trees from woodpeckers by using one of several different techniques. One technique involves the use of bird netting – yes, that’s netting designed specifically to keep birds out of areas.
Covering your tree in bird netting should keep woodpeckers and other feathered, flying pests away. With that said, this isn’t a viable solution for large trees, as it’s difficult to fully enclose a large tree in bird netting.
Scare Them Away
Another way to keep woodpeckers from destroying your trees is to scare them away. There are special devices that you can purchase which flash light every so often for this purpose.
A do-it-yourself alternative, however, is to hang an old CD from a piece of string. As the CD dangles in the wind, it will create a bright reflection that should scare away woodpeckers and other birds.
Loud noises may also prove useful in deterring woodpeckers from your trees, so you could actually play the CD instead of dangling it.
Repairing Woodpecker Damage
But what if a woodpecker has already damaged your tree? Is there anything you can do to repair it?
First, take a few moments to inspect the tree and locate its points of injury. Some people assume that it’s best to fill these holes with glue or some other substance to prevent bacteria from entering.
However, this could actually have the opposite effect by trapping bacteria inside the tree. In most cases, it’s best to let the wounds heal on their own, keeping an eye on them to make sure they aren’t being attacked by pests.
The Woodsman Company offers tree planting, tree pruning and shrub trimming, tree removal and stump grinding as well as a tree wellness program.
If we can help with any of your tree care needs give us a call at 512-846-2535 or 512-940-0799 or
I’m surprised there is not a spray or something to keep woodpeckers away. I am going to put a net up soon. Thanks!
I never knew woodpeckers cause holes in trees that eventually kill them from the inside out! I noticed a woodpecker on my tree in my new backyard. Thank you for the tips on protecting trees from woodpeckers.