Roanoke Tree Removal is a local referral service: we pass your request to an independent, local tree crew. We are not a government office, and this page is general information, not legal or insurance advice.
How to spot it
The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) describes hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) as a non-native insect from Asia that feeds on the sap and stored nutrients of eastern hemlock. The insects settle at the base of the needles and cover themselves with a white, waxy secretion that looks like small cotton balls on the underside of the twigs.
Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) says the insects themselves are about 0.8 mm long and reddish brown, while the white masses are 3 mm or more across. Those masses on the bark, foliage or twigs are a sure sign of HWA. They can stay on a twig long after the insects are gone, so old wool does not always mean an active infestation. VCE says most of the insect's development happens between October and June, so late fall through spring is a good time to look.
What it does to a hemlock
VCE says the nymphs and adults feed on storage cells at the base of the needles. The tree loses vigor and drops needles early, sometimes until it is bare, which often leads to death. The published timelines differ:
| How fast HWA can kill a hemlock | Source |
|---|---|
| As little as two years, depending on tree health and HWA density | VDOF Forestry Topic 63, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| As quick as four years if left uncontrolled | VCE ENTO-511, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| Within 4 to 10 years; it can also weaken a tree so other insects and diseases take hold | VCE 3010-1465, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
The ranges differ by publication; a stressed tree with a heavy infestation is at the short end.
HWA in Virginia and the Roanoke Valley
VDOF says HWA was first reported in Richmond in 1951 and has spread through most of the eastern U.S., from Maine to Georgia. VCE says it feeds on both eastern and Carolina hemlock in Virginia and now covers most of the Appalachian region. VCE's landscape fact sheet calls eastern (Canadian) hemlock a native of moist forests and stream banks of the Appalachians, and says the adelgid's spread is unimpeded.
Virginia Tech's dendrology fact sheet puts eastern hemlock at up to 80 feet tall. VCE notes it can be pruned as a hedge, so a failing hemlock may stand close to a house or fence.
Treatment options
VDOF's Forestry Topic 63 covers the systemic insecticides that move through the tree's vascular tissue:
| Option | What VDOF says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Dinotefuran | Fast-acting, can kill HWA in as little as one month; works for one to two years, so yearly treatment is recommended; suited to heavy infestations | VDOF Forestry Topic 63, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| Imidacloprid | Takes at least three months to work; one treatment can protect for up to seven years; suited to light or moderate infestations | VDOF Forestry Topic 63, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| Dinotefuran, then imidacloprid | Described as a highly effective combination | VDOF Forestry Topic 63, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| Horticultural oil | Full-canopy spray twice a year; preferred for smaller landscape trees | VDOF Forestry Topic 63, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
The systemic products go on as a soil injection, a soil drench, a trunk injection (the most costly method) or a basal bark spray, ideally in spring or fall when the soil is moist but not frozen. VDOF warns that soil treatments raise the risk of runoff, so do not exceed the label's per-acre limit or treat before heavy rain. VCE points to the Virginia Pest Management Guide for current products and warns that fertilizing can feed more adelgids. VDOF says biological control is not suitable for single trees.
Virginia's cost-share program
VDOF runs a Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Treatment Cost-Share Program for eastern and Carolina hemlocks. Its terms, from the program page and the October 2025 application guide:
| Program term | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Projects up to $500 | Reimbursed up to 100% of direct costs | VDOF cost-share program, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| Projects over $500 | $500 or 50% of direct costs, whichever is higher | VDOF cost-share program, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| Maximum per landowner or organization | $1,500 | VDOF cost-share program, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| Minimum reimbursement | $100 | VDOF application guide, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| Who can apply | Virginia landowners and organizations, including HOAs | VDOF cost-share program, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| Before treatment | A DOF forester must inspect and approve the trees | VDOF application guide, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| Timing | Approval letter within 14 days; pay first, then submit proof within 90 days | VDOF application guide, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
Eligible treatments are trunk injection of imidacloprid, or soil drench, soil injection or basal bark spray of imidacloprid or dinotefuran. The program page says applications must be made by a certified pesticide applicator in good standing with VDACS; the application guide also allows a landowner to treat their own property following the label. Confirm which applies with the forester before you buy product. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis while funds last. For other help, see tree removal financial assistance in Roanoke.
Treat or remove?
A living hemlock with plenty of foliage is a candidate for treatment, and the cost-share requires a forester to approve the tree first. A dead one is different. Tennessee State University Extension says dead hemlocks are a hazard to people and property, and advises removing dead trees near buildings and other areas where people and pets could be hurt by falling branches. Angi lists a tree that is dead, or has more than 25% of its branches dead, as a sign it may need removal.
Think about the long run too. VCE's fact sheet says owners should factor in the cost of regular treatment before planting a hemlock, and that large trees need a certified arborist with equipment to reach the whole tree. Our remove or trim? guide walks through the decision, and an arborist risk assessment can settle it.
Removing a dead hemlock
A hemlock next to a house or fence often has to come down in sections. Published national prices:
| Item | Published figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tree removal, 30–60 feet | $450 – $1,200 | Angi, tree removal cost, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| Tree removal, 60–80 feet | $800 – $1,500 | Angi, tree removal cost, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| Tight, hard-to-reach or unsafe spot | About 25% – 50% more | Angi, tree removal cost, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| Stump removal, first stump | $100 – $150 | Angi, tree removal cost, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
Angi's figures are national, not Roanoke quotes. See dead tree removal, hazard tree removal and stump grinding cost.
Replanting after a hemlock
VCE notes that Carolina hemlock is also susceptible to HWA, while some Asian hemlocks, such as northern and southern Japanese hemlock, appear resistant to its damaging effects even though the adelgid can be found on them. Our tree too close to the house guide covers spacing a replacement away from the house.
Get help with a hemlock
To have a declining or dead hemlock looked at in the Roanoke Valley, call (540) 904-1819 or use the form, and we will pass it to an independent local crew. Tell us how many hemlocks there are, roughly how tall, how close they are to the house, and whether they still have green needles. ISA's Find an Arborist directory lets you check credentials, and VDOF's Find a Forester tool connects you with the state forester for the cost-share visit.
Sources
- Virginia Department of Forestry, Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- Virginia Department of Forestry, Hemlock Tree Management: Protection from the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, Forestry Topic 63 (March 2023, PDF) (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- Virginia Department of Forestry, Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Treatment Cost-Share Program (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- Virginia Department of Forestry, HWA Treatment Cost-Share Program: Application Process and Information (Oct 8, 2025, PDF) (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- Virginia Cooperative Extension, Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, ENTO-511NP (2022, PDF) (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- Virginia Cooperative Extension, Canadian Hemlock, Tsuga canadensis, 3010-1465 (2018, PDF) (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- Virginia Tech Dendrology, eastern hemlock fact sheet (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- Tennessee State University Extension, Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (PDF) (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- Angi, tree removal cost (national figures, updated Jul 8, 2026) (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- TreesAreGood.org (International Society of Arboriculture), Find an Arborist (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
Common questions
What does hemlock woolly adelgid look like?
White, cottony or waxy tufts at the base of the needles on the underside of hemlock twigs. VCE says the white masses are 3 mm or more across and are a sure sign of HWA.
Can a hemlock with woolly adelgid be saved?
Often, if it is still healthy enough. VDOF lists systemic treatments: dinotefuran works fast for one to two years, and one imidacloprid treatment can protect a tree for up to seven years.
How fast does hemlock woolly adelgid kill a tree?
VDOF says in as little as two years depending on tree health and HWA density. VCE publications give as quick as four years, and 4 to 10 years.
Does Virginia help pay for hemlock treatment?
Yes. VDOF's cost-share reimburses up to 100% of costs up to $500, or the higher of $500 or 50% for larger projects, up to $1,500 per landowner. A DOF forester must approve the trees first.
When should I treat hemlocks for woolly adelgid?
VDOF says soil and basal bark treatments should go on in spring or fall when the soil is moist but not frozen, and not right before heavy rain.
Should I remove a dead hemlock?
If it can hit a house, driveway or play area, yes. Tennessee State University Extension says dead hemlocks are a hazard to people and property and advises removing those near buildings.