Peach Borers

Peach borers kill more trees than all other causes combined. They are large enough to find easily in  early November. Usually they are at or just below  the ground surface. They betray their presence by  gum full of "sawdust." Carefully hoe away the earth  4" to 6" deep around the trunks of the trees, if possible without disturbing the gum. Then with a trowel  remove the gum and keep a sharp lookout for white  worms with brown heads. If not found in the gum look  for holes and soft spots in the bark. Use a narrow  pointed penknife to cut into these thin places. Follow  the tunnels to the ends and kill the worm in each  tunnel. 

Leave the excavation around the tree for two weeks then examine the trunks again for worms missed the  first time. Fresh gum and sawdust tell where they are. 

Kill them. Fill the excavation with soil and tramp down. 

Peach borers also kill grafted double flowering almond. Treat in the same way. 

Another way is to spread paradichlorobenzine powder in a disc around the base of each tree but  without touching the trunk with it and covering with  earth several inches deep. The fumes are poisonous  to the worms. The proper time to do this is in early  autumn while the ground is warm and moist. The  material may be obtained at garden supply stores. 

Copyright Information: Gardening Short Cuts

See Also: Garden Pests