
What is Whitcomb's method of tree planting?
Whitcomb's method consists of digging small holes around the tree and filling them with various nutrients. I dug a 3 inch round hole under the drip line about 12 inches deep. For each tree I dug three of these holes. I filled each hole with elemental sulfur and a micronutrient mix fertilizer (containing manganese, and other such stuff).
How often should I treat my ash tree?
The answer to your question is dependent on the initial Ash tree treatment. If you called a Certified Arborist, your tree should be treated every other year.
How often should I treat my trees for tree poisoning?
If you called a Certified Arborist, your tree should be treated every other year. Certified Arborists typically use trunk-injected insecticides which contain emamectin benzoate, while products sold at your local hardware store may be similar, the treatment process and product used is what determines the effectiveness of the treatment itself.
When is the best time to apply systemic insecticide to trees?
In general, you can apply a systemic insecticide for trees and shrubs when the plants are actively growing, but the best time is usually in the spring before the tree is overrun by insects. Several benefits exist in using a systemic insecticide for trees and shrubs rather than a topical tree insecticide spray.

Why do we use insecticides?
Insecticide sprays are often useful in minimizing insect pests. Effectiveness is reduced, though when you can't get the spray in contact with all of the target pests. When you're unable to spray all of a tree's plant parts, systemic insecticides can help.
What is the purpose of insecticide sprays?
Lewis. Trees are the backbone of the garden. Providing shade, privacy and, often, colorful leaves and flowers, trees usually take care of themselves. Sometimes, though, an insect will feed on a tree, spoiling its beauty and threatening its health. Insecticide sprays are often useful in minimizing insect pests.
What is the active ingredient in pesticide highway?
Pesticide Highway. When systemic insecticides contact plant roots or leaves, the active ingredient -- often acephate, imidacloprid or dinotefuran -- translocates to leaves and stems with the sap. It kills sap-sucking insects when they feed from leaves or stems.
What do lace wing insects eat?
Azalea lace wings feed on broadleaf evergreen trees and shrubs. You'll recognize lace wing damage by faded leaves and the black spots on leaf undersides, which are their eggs and excrement. Spider mites and many other insects also succumb quickly.
Can you spray a shade tree?
Spraying a large shade tree is not usually practical. If you can't reach the entire canopy with a hose-end sprayer, or don't want to spray near human activity, systemic insecticide can be applied to the soil over the tree's roots, which will carry the chemical to the rest of the tree. Use the host-end sprayer.
Do aphids kill trees?
Aphids suck sap from leaves and stems. They won't usually kill a tree, but their sticky, mildew-stained excrement, or honeydew, can be unwelcome on automobiles and patio furniture. Scale insects shed sprays off their waxy or downy bodies, but they're no match for insecticide-laced sap.
What to do if your ash tree dies from EAB?
If you’re Ash has died during the EAB outbreak, consider other trees to plant such as, oak trees, musclewood trees, Kentucky coffee trees, and many more.
What insecticides do arborists use?
Certified Arborists typically use trunk-injected insecticides which contain emamectin benzoate, while products sold at your local hardware store may be similar, the treatment process and product used is what determines the effectiveness of the treatment itself.
How many states have Emerald Ash Borer affected?
Upon entering the United States in 2002, and the greater Wisconsin area in 2008, the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has affected over 35 states and killed hundreds of millions of trees. When you had your Ash tree inspected, and initially treated, you protected this vulnerable species from the EAB.
What is the cure for EAB?
It’s important to understand the different products available. There are products sold within your local hardware store that are systemic insecticides and have been advertised as the “cure” to EAB. These insecticides are applied to the soil around the base of the tree.
What is the scar on an apple tree?
On apple trees, as well as apricot, nectarine, and peach trees, you’ll see web-like scars on the immature fruit of infected trees. A rough corky spot develops at the point of infection. If you are wondering how to treat powdery mildew on trees, you’ll do best to give the trees excellent care to prevent the infection in the first place.
What is powdery mildew?
Image by redstallion. Powdery mildew is an easy disease to recognize. On trees with powdery mildew, you’ll see a white or gray powdery growth on the leaves. It’s usually not lethal in trees, but it can disfigure fruit trees and limit their productivity.
How to get rid of puckered leaves on fruit trees?
If you see deformed, puckered leaves, it’s time to get out the pruners. Disinfect the cutting edges, then prune out and discard the diseased portions of the plant immediately. At the same time, apply fungicides to protect the remaining leaves on the fruit tree.
Can powdery mildew be on trees?
Powdery Mildew Fungus on Trees. Powdery mildew attacks many plants, and trees with powdery mildew are no exception. Trees can be infected by different fungi. Most powdery mildew fungus on trees release overwintering spores when conditions are moist. Moist conditions are also necessary for the spores to germinate and infect a tree.
How to get rid of dead bark on a tree?
Removing the dead and injured bark from around the wound with a sharp knife will encourage the healing process while making the tree more attractive in the landscape. "Scribing" a wound in the shape of a vertical ellipse will lessen rot and encourage the bark to form a callus.
How to improve a tree's vigor?
Improving a tree's health and vigor is a priority especially when the tree trunk is injured. Treating a tree wound and using a correct pruning method will support tree health by slowing the rotting process. You might start by correctly pruning dead and dying branches to increase tree vigor and encourage a more attractive specimen.
Can fungi cause tree trunk wounds?
Conservation. It is obviously best to prevent tree trunk wounds in the first place. But this isn't always possible. Wounds from can occur from insect attacks, animals, fire or storm damage. Bacteria and fungi can attack a tree and damage it as well.
Who is Steve Nix?
Steve Nix is a member of the Society of American Foresters and a former forest resources analyst for the state of Alabama. It is obviously best to prevent tree trunk wounds in the first place. But this isn't always possible. Wounds from can occur from insect attacks, animals, fire or storm damage. Bacteria and fungi can attack a tree ...
Can painting a wound be done for cosmetic purposes?
Most tree professionals agree that dressing a wound can be done for cosmetic effect but has no value as a treatment. Studies show that painting may actually inhibit the healing process. They may, according to the University of Tennessee Extension Service : Prevent drying and encourage fungal growth.
Can you cure wood decay?
Once wood has been damaged there is no cure for decay. It is possible, however, to slow or stop more decay and damage. If a tree trunk is wounded or suffering the loss of bark, there are some things you can do that may help to heal the injury and improve the wound's appearance.
What are the signs of herbicide damage?
Distorted leaves, stunted growth, necrosis, premature leaf loss, branch dieback, leaf browning, yellowing, marginal leaf scorching, and even tree death are all signs of herbicide injury. If an injury is the result of drift on foliage and is discovered immediately, the tree can be sprayed liberally with water which will lessen the effects, ...
Where do trees absorb herbicides?
Herbicides may also be taken up by a tree’s roots into its vascular system from nearby treatments. Soil sterilants are often applied to graveled areas such as driveways and fence lines. Then trees that are near these areas absorb the herbicide, resulting in herbicide injury in trees.
Why is it so hard to treat weeds on trees?
The reason is because there are many types of herbicide all comprised of different and varied chemicals. Without a costly chemical analysis, treatment may be much about guess work.
What to do with pre-emergent herbicide?
If it is a soil sterilant that is immediately taken up by the roots, incorporate the soil with activated charcoal or organic material. This helps to absorb the herbicide.
Can herbicides hurt trees?
While the target of herbicides, the weeds, is often taken care of, there is may often be accidental herbicide injury done to trees and other plants too. Tree herbicide injury is difficult to diagnose since it mimics damage done by disease and insects. Tree damage from herbicides may be from incorrect or inappropriate application of from drift ...
Can you mix weed killer and herbicide?
Herbicides have become the most common solution to weed control, especially for commercial farms, along industrial areas and roadways and for large scale landscapes where manual cultivation is costly and time consuming, but trees and weed killer don’t often mix.
Here is what I tried to no avail
Foliar application of chelated iron. I either did not apply enough or it just didn't work.
What finally worked
I did two things in one final, last ditch effort to save my trees. I knew that there was only one more year in them if they did not get help.
Why is my tree bark wet?
When the liquid dries, it leaves a pale gray to white crust on the bark. Wetwood is caused by a number of species of bacteria that enter the tree through wounds. Since bacteria associated with wetwood are common in soil, root wounds are probably a major point of entry.
What is wetwood disease?
Wetwood, also known as slime flux, is a very common bacterial disease that occurs in many kinds of trees. Nearly all elm and poplar species are affected, as are numerous other trees including crabapple, beech, birch, maple, dogwood, horsechestnut, linden, oak, pine, redbud, sycamore, and tuliptree. Wetwood is normally not a serious disease.
Is wetwood disease life threatening?
Occasionally, branch dieback also occurs. However, in most healthy trees, this disease is not considered to be life threatening. There is no satisfactory control for wetwood. To help prevent infection, avoid wounding trees.
Is it bad to drill a hole in a tree trunk?
On the contrary, today it is believed to be more harmful to the tree than beneficial.
Is wetwood tree bark harmful?
On the contrary, today it is believed to be more harmful to the tree than beneficial. There are some extreme cases where wetwood may cause leaf wilting, premature leaf drop, branch dieback or death of bark tissue, which may warrant the installation of a drainpipe.
