Residents in Litchfield County are being cautioned to expect significant defoliation of hardwood trees this spring.  Officials with Connecticut’s Agricultural Experiment Station say 2021 was the first year of widespread defoliation in northwest Connecticut and most healthy trees refoliated in part due to sufficient summer rains. DEEP Director of Forestry Chris Martin says the energy required to refoliate places significant stress on trees increasing the risk of tree mortality in 2022. Martin warned that repeated attacks from spongy moths, formerly known as gypsy moths, can weaken a tree’s natural ability to ward off secondary stressors such as drought or other insects and disease. Oaks are most preferred tree species.