Copper Naphthenate

pukunui

Im interested in peoples opinions on the use of Copper Naphthenate
wood preserver on old wounds on trees to Prevent/slow decay.

Is this an outdated technique like other wound dressings?

Are there any major disadvantages or problems associated with its use?

Does anyone on here use it?

Cheers.

Eric Frei

In this post there's a document which has data about Copper Naphthenate being used in the asphalt based dressing. At concentrations above 3.3% it stopped decay but can be toxic.

Getting more data on effectiveness long term and toxicity is hard. I'll try.

Re-application also is the key, if so then why not a biological barrier like trichoderma?

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pukunui

Thanks for the link, ill have a read of those attachments.

The Copper Naphthenate i have seen used was mixed with turps and sprayed on, the same as you would do for timber garden sleepers etc.

Pretty stinky stuff.

Brent Ferris

I would agree with Eric, that it might work for the short term, but must be reapplied to be effective., And since both copper and nickel are extremely toxic micronutrients for plant life, and both accumulate in the tissues rather than being leached away, the likelihood of killing the tree to stop the decay is very likely. I am not familiar with the Trichoderma solution Eric recommends, but since it is biological barrier, it is much more likely to be far more effective than a commercial spray at stopping decay fungi, and cause less damage to the host tree.

I am pretty sure there was at least one other thread discussing the merits of Trichoderma -- maybe Eric can find it for you.

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Eric Frei

It's in the same link I posted, that whole thread is about wound dressings.

As we find out more keep adding it to that existing thread so it's all in one place.

It's relatively cheap and these days there's many on the market. Mix up a few types.

Please go to this thread.

Trichoderma | wound dressing | wound painting | Biological controls

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