Ed Roland
Addicted to ArboristSite
We know that healthy plants produce allelochemicals that have deterrant effects on certain insects. So, making sure a plant has a proper cultural and environmental setting is extremely important. How many of you have found a serious pest issue and treated for that instance only to have another pop up on the same plant? I was called out, last season, to treat a juvenile english oak for "caterpillars". haha, well, it was oranged striped oak worm and they were having a field day. I sprayed for control, making sure to spray the mulch ring, as this particular pest has a defense mech. of dropping to the ground when the spray hits them. I was leaving thinking I had done some good when i noticed a small bleeding canker @ the base of the tree. I returned the next day, didnt want chemical dripping on me, to take a root sample for the pathologist to confirm phytophthora. The gutter fed into the planting bed upon closer inspection.
