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City staff: aphid problems on linden street trees likely to require removal and phased replacement
Summary
Staff described widespread linden (London) street-tree complaints caused by aphids and sticky honeydew, explained limits on pesticide options under a new state RCW and federal tool restrictions, and said the long-term solution is removal and replacement on a prioritized schedule.
Phil, a city staff member working with urban forestry, told the committee the city has 534 linden street trees—about 5% of the city’s street-tree inventory—and the trees generate many resident complaints because aphids feeding on the trees produce sticky honeydew.
“We've got 534 of them, which represents 5% of our street tree population,” Phil said. He summarized past steps: a moratorium on planting linden trees about ten years ago, trial treatments that failed, and legal and practical limits on effective pesticides.
Phil explained that recent and forthcoming state rule changes have tightened use of certain insecticides. “There’s a new RCW on the use of certain insecticides that kill aphids because they often also kill…
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