Oak Tree Boring Beetles (Rant)

[Hugh R]

Originally Posted by Noah930

Silly question, Hugh (because I have no knowledge on the topic), but how do you know it's wood boring beetles doing in your trees?

City and local tree experts told me so. Plus one I had cut down, the contractor showed me the beetles.

The Ranch Manager from Disney's Golden Oak Ranch (880 acres) a few miles from here is coming over tomorrow to check it out. I think I'll be going the nuclear option on these fuchers. May cost me $,$$$, but that is an investment in the value of my property. The Golden Oak Ranch consultant is going to sell me a 90 lbs. or so of Merit to get started. About $120, which is a very good price, as far as I can tell.

[bpu699]

Heres the problem... Treating big trees is expensive, and needs to be done every year or two...indefinitely... Figure 200-400$ per tree for the injectables.

10-20 trees, thats $5000 plus per year...

The strong chemical drenches used leach into the ground water, and can't be used often. There is a limit of what can be used per acre, and it isn't a lot.

I feel for you. I have resorted to trimming dying branches when I see them. I also am treating the younger trees, as thats cost effective.

I spray the bark with insecticides, though I am not sure it does much more than make me feel better...

Bo

If you find a solution, let me know.

[Hugh R]

Bo

I understand. My time horizon to move is 2-5 years, I want to keep them alive that long. After that, not my problem.

[Hugh R]

I'll be drip irrigation with soakers on my 100 plus oak trees beginning tomorrow. The arborist recommends using soaker hose that delivers 1 gph/foot of soaker hose set at about 15 feet from the trunk of the tree, which means around 50 feet of soaker hose for six hours, or around 300 gallons/tree, maybe more depending on the moisture levels I get in the soil. 300 gallons for a 3 foot trunk diameter oak doesn't seem like much. He says do it 2-3 times per year.

I'll also be pouring Merit 0.5G on the soaker line at about 1 lb (two cups) for a small tree (12"dia.) and up to 4 lbs. for a 4' diameter tree. I've gotta experiment with the amount of water on small versus bigger trees. The experts say water then post hole dig a foot or two down and look at the soil and see if it looks moist.

[BE911SC]

Just read about tree-killing beetles in the new National Geographic. They're wreaking havoc all across the Canadian and US PNW and moving east into the Black Hills of SoDak.

[72doug2,2S]

I feel your pain Hugh, I lost an almost mature queen palm to LY (leathan yellowing) disease.