when the leaves have left the tree.....before the sun goes down use dormant oil according to directions..........do this while the pets & kids are inside getting ready for bed..............this smothers any eggs left on the tree.................and if you could do that early spring when the kids are in school and the pets in the house......it just needs to dry before they can be near it.....it does not take long....wear old log clothes, mask, goggles, gloves & hat............after that you can try using 1 teasp liquid hand soap w 1 qt water x how many times you need it to cover your tree. you need to lime and fertilize with old cow manure if you happen to see a bag of worms....I get the kitchen cooking spray and a straw and it has 3 linings in the sack....I poke threw each one and spray each one and the alcohol in the spray smothers them.....then the next day, I go out with a flat stick and just roll it on the stick and bag & toss it in the trash can.