Using lysol on cuts in elms...

[Arborialis]

I'm new to the site, but have read it off the radar for a while. I just thought I'd run this by y'all, sorry if it's a little long...

Does anyone have any research on the effectiveness of spraying lysol (or anything else) on fresh cuts in an elm in order to deter DED? A new employer of mine insists i carry a can with me in the tree and spray every cut. I'm new to the area, but i guess this is fairly standard in the Northeast. While I commend his dedication to tree preservation, my own thoughts are that the practice is pointless, and may even prove to be detrimental.
Here's why:

1. If a tree is pruned and sprayed in the winter, I would think most of the lysol would be gone by the time the beetles fly.
2. It's my understanding that the beetles spread the fungus either by feeding on small twigs (2nd year growth maybe) in healthy trees or by tunnelling into the bark to lay eggs in an unhealthy tree, and will never really be on the cut. The cut only attracts the females to the tree.
3. The lysol is a fungicide, not an insecticide, and unless the scent will deter the beetles from landing, or unless it is systemic, what's the point?
4. The tree may suck down some of the hundreds of chemicals in lysol untested on trees, not to mention the added moisture... but maybe the antibacterials will slow rot, I don't know.

I'm not debating the use of Arbortect or some other systemic fungicide, nor am I debating the sterilization of saws (handsaws) between trees with a bleach solution or something. I realize my thoughts are basically just opinions and i have no facts to back them up. I'm just a lowly climber-grade arborist and was hoping for some answers.

 

[Ekka]

I'd suggest you view previous post on this topic, it's huge, and been thrashed to death.

Just click on Search up the top and enter wound dressings etc.

PS; make yourself a cuppa because you'll be reading a while.

 

[Stumper]

Lysol is nice for sterilizing tools. I have experimented with excising weeping cankers (Cytospora infection) on Aspens and treating with Lysol. A couple of the trees survived and several died-which proves nothing. Since Cytospora is almost always fatal on Aspens in this area I think it may have done some good but I do not KNOW. I am inclined to agree with you that treating winter cuts is a complete waste. Some maintain that using asphalt based wound dressing as a preventative on Oaks and Elms during the growing season has merit because it caps the source of attraction for insect vectors of fungal infections. That sounds nice. It probably matters little but it sounds nice.

We sprayed and daubed that nasty stuff for decades based on good feelings and then discovered that it was actually slightly harmful. I'm glad I don't live in an oakwilt area so I don't have to make a decision about using it again.

 

[Stumper]

By the way, WELCOME!

 

[Arborialis]

Hey, thanks for the welcome. I've been perusing old posts... lots of interesting stuff, some new, most same old, but it's great to hear different viewpoints. Lots of knowledgeable tree guys, I was hoping someone could direct me to some studies on this specific issue. I heard a rumor that Davey once did a study on this exact subject, but I can't find it.

On a separate note, it's a wierd coincidence that the first two replies I got from my first post were from Australia and Colorado: two of my former homes. I climbed in Colorado for a couple of years. Now it's Saturday night and I'm outa here.