Volunteers gave downtown trees a soapy shower this weekend in an effort to decrease the number of aphids that have infested trees. Sharlene Van Rooy, pictured above, with the Hollister Downtown Association led efforts to eliminate both the tiny sap-sucking insects, as well as the sugary substance that has dripped from trees onto the sidewalk as a result of their presence. Van Rooy, along with four other volunteers, used soapy water to wash around 35 trees along two blocks in downtown.
Van Rooy said she knew that soapy water was not the best method for eliminating the insects, but she wanted to do something to help because she’ll be gone for the downtown association’s Fall Cleanup.
“I know the city is understaffed,” Van Rooy said. “It’s not the best thing to do but it’s kind of like the chicken soup method.”
The city had the trees injected to eliminate the aphids around a month ago, said Community Service Director Clay Lee. However, not all of the aphids were killed and the black sap residue still remains on the sidewalks.
Van Rooy said more efforts would be made during the fall cleanup, 8am to 11am Sept. 15, to eliminate the sap.
