phytophthora: whats the point trying

[Charlieh]

Been to a big tourist location near home today, two sites in close proximity to it are having larch dropped due to phytophthora infection as well as significant areas of rhodie being cleared due being infected and as a precaution within a few mile radius, and yet at this site which has had known infections in the past, I noted at least 5 fairly significant areas of rhodie showing signs of phytophthora in areas open to the public to pass through or within 6inches of bushes that are dying off.

 

I give up, we steam clean saws, disinfect footwear, bag all work clothes when we leave the site for the nights in an effort to prevent the spread and its just a total waste of time

 

Publicly open areas are going to be the down fall of all efforts trying to combat the spread of this disease. I am going to be contacting FERA about the locations I have noted today, but despite the money being thrown at this disease its a complete and utter waste of time and spread seems to be accelerating and not slowing.

[Welshwoodsman]

Where we are on holiday in south wales, trees have been cleared to the extent that the landscape will never look the same in my lifetime. Felling is going on everywhere- but there is still public access throughout. Bark, branches, needles are strewn far and wide- and timber lorries are everywhere. The welsh govt announced earlier in the year that they were halting all attempts to contain the disease. Its only in the larch here- but dead trees are growing right next to seemingly healthy ones- and i am beginning to question if the trees ever actually caught it, or if its a massive opportunity for the FC in wales to bank the cash from 30,000 hectares odd of trees, clearfell absolutely everything, and walk away!

Thankfully i have norway and hemlock in my wood- but i am waiting for the news that PR has jumped to Spruce,

 

 

Sent by smoke signal from my teepee.

[ben_inthewoods]

Pr has infected Sitka where Sitka was smothered in inoculum, but the crucial point is that Pr cannot sporolate on Sitka (or indeed a wider variety of species).

 

It does leave you scratching your head over the degree of species diversity required to hedge bets.

 

Personally I am planting plenty of Sitka, but spreading the genetic base a bit wider than just the 'improved' clonal orchard material.

 

I am also banging in quite a bit of Douglas, and in certain areas Japanese Red Cedar and Western Red Cedar, Coastal redwood and Wellingtonia. Plus birch, birch, birch.

[Charlieh]

I am also banging in quite a bit of Douglas, and in certain areas Japanese Red Cedar and Western Red Cedar, Coastal redwood and Wellingtonia. Plus birch, birch, birch.

 

what ground are you putting the Japanese red cedar on, I have heard good things about it and see good trail data but I thought it was a bit fussy on site selection? would be tempted to start putting a bit in mixes if it will tolerate damper conditions, I have been putting Doug fir and Norway spruce back into mixes shame to loose larch as it grows so well round here, but I think its days are numbered round here

[ben_inthewoods]

I'm putting JRC in as an underplanted tree on brown earths and trying it on a variety of climatic sites from wet (where i have specimen trees that are looking good) to fairly dry sites, not on clearfells.

 

experimenting really.

[SamWhiting12]

Been to a big tourist location near home today, two sites in close proximity to it are having larch dropped due to phytophthora infection as well as significant areas of rhodie being cleared due being infected and as a precaution within a few mile radius, and yet at this site which has had known infections in the past, I noted at least 5 fairly significant areas of rhodie showing signs of phytophthora in areas open to the public to pass through or within 6inches of bushes that are dying off. .

 

I know what your saying, but then you see the artics driving off with the infected timber dropping bark, needles and all sorts when it comes off site, makes people walking through infect sites quiet insignificant.

 

The hills are looking pretty bare in South Wales from all the extraction they have been doing, a shame really

[bobh]

Had some rhodie up here tight against the road, several tagged as infected to be removed. Council verge trimmer came along and took them back 10" nice and neat then carried on spreading phytophthora all around the area!

[agrimog]

its also been found on douglas fir, but again it cant sporulate of them, the most of the south west of scotland including the galloway penninusla is now listed as a contaiminated area and has its own act concerning the felling and movement of timber

[armybloke]

This will end up being the same prognosis as Ash dieback. Fell everything then make a new decision to leave everything standing to fend for itself - why destroy a forest that may have a number of resistant trees among it? I often despair. Do we kill everyone with Ebola??

[Joy Yeomans]

like dutch elm disease you wont be able to stop it?