Wollongong Heritage Norfolk to be felled due to Botryosphaeria fungi

Eric Frei · 21st July 2010, 08:45 PM

Botryosphaeria ssp is relatively common and appears to be abundant around the Wollongong area.

But trichoderma can be used for treatment.

Heritage Norfolk pine days are numbered - Local News - News - General - Illawarra Mercury

Quote:

North Wollongong is to lose one of its heritage-listed Norfolk Island pine trees, after tests revealed it is dying from a contagious pathogen.

Tissue samples collected from the 24m-high tree have indicated it is dying from a Botryosphaeria strain thought to be affecting a number of other tree species along the NSW coast.

Wollongong City Council said the sick tree, believed to be about 80 years old, posed a risk to other Norfolk Island pines along the foreshore.

City works area manager Rosemary Crowhurst said dead limbs from the tree were a hazard to passers-by.

"We noticed that it was starting to decay 12 months ago so we had some forensic investigations sent away to an arborist company to test the soil and the tree," she said.

"It came back with a pathogen that we couldn't fight in this particular tree, it's too far gone."

The section of trees is located in Galvin Park, about 50m north of the North Wollongong surf club.

Council believes the nearby section of the iconic trees, which span the entire Blue Mile precinct, may also carry the pathogen, however early detection means they will be salvaged.

In the last three years, at least 20 Illawarra trees have been diagnosed with the Botryosphaeria strain.

The fungal disease can kill a healthy tree within 12 to 18 months.

Council will begin lopping small sections of the tree today, before remediating the affected soil and planting a replacement Norfolk pine in the coming months.

"The virus kills the tree from the top down and it will soon spread to the other trees, Mrs Crowhurst said.

"We really have no other choice but to cut it down.

"We think these are significant trees so we want the community to take ownership of the new addition and report anyone vandalising or damaging it."

Brent Ferris · 25th July 2010, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Botryosphaeria ssp is relatively common and appears to be abundant around the Wollongong area.

But trichoderma can be used for treatment.

So Ekka, are they using trichoderma to kill the Botryosphaeria, or are they trying something else, and replanting with Norfolk because that is the only species that looks good in this location? And it may die as well?

Eric Frei · 26th July 2010, 08:49 AM

You'd find it would be a compost tea with tricho in it, that's my bet.

Eric Frei · 31st October 2010, 08:55 PM

Perhaps it's the same as in Wollongong, not too far apart these cities.

Soil tests come up with nothing.

Specialists aim to get to root of pines disease - Local News - News - General - Newcastle Herald

Quote:

19 Oct, 2010
Testing is under way to discover what is killing Norfolk Island pines in Wickham to stop potential disease spreading to several thousand other trees in Newcastle.

About 20 specimens on Hannell Street are dying or deteriorating.

Newcastle City Council soil samples provided little clue why after laboratory analysis.

Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens staff are now lending their expertise to solve the mystery.

Soil, root and tissue samples taken from the trees are being tested.

Specialists will look for any disease affecting the trees.

City arborist Lindsay Field said the council would like to correct what was happening.

‘‘For this particular avenue, it’s the main arterial road into the city,’’ he said.

‘‘These trees have been there for some time.’’

Mr Field said the Norfolk pines were planted between 25 and 30 years ago.

It was also important to identify the problem so it did not affect other trees.

‘‘We’ve got several thousand Norfolk pines through our coastal area,’’ he said.

Eric Frei · 31st October 2010, 09:34 PM

Also a problem in SA

Bay's Norfolk Island Pines under pressure - Local News - News - Guardian Messenger

Quote:

13 Oct 10
THE Bay’s landmark Norfolk Island Pines are struggling to survive in the “urban jungle” that has become their habitat.

Many of the council’s 1100 pines planted 40 years ago are showing signs of distress, with 20 showing real decline and seven already dead, Holdfast Bay chief executive Justin Lynch says.

“For trees that can naturally live more than 100 years, this is neither a satisfactory nor a sustainable situation,” he said.

Water restrictions, infill development and an increase in paved surfaces have been touted as the main causes behind the trees’ decline - particularly on Partridge St and Brighton Rd, Glenelg.

Sturt Stump Cutters’ owner and arborist Russell Ellis, who has 30 years experience in Glenelg and Brighton, said it was becoming tougher to help the trees survive.

“It’s a tough life for a tree in an urban jungle,” he said.

“If you look at the trees suffering in Partridge St and along the main roads, 80 per cent of the area around them is bituminised or paved.

“The only way they get water is through people watering their front lawns or gardens.

“But with the water restrictions over the past few years people haven’t been doing that so the trees aren’t getting any moisture as well.”

Mr Ellis said development had also harmed the trees.

“Over the last 50 years everything has been paved, house blocks are getting smaller ... and underneath all that bitumen and concrete they’re struggling to get the nutrients they need.”

Mr Lynch said the pines were also suffering from compacting caused by foot and road traffic.

In a bid to preserve the pine avenues, Holdfast Bay Council has introduced a new technique for replanting trees (see story below).

Mr Lynch said the strategy was necessary to protect the trees from “the rigours of what is becoming an increasingly hostile environment”.

“We need to try new and different ways of growing our trees,” he said.

“It’s our hope that the better start we give to the tree will pay dividends in future years, not only in the aesthetic qualities provided but also the longevity of the tree.”

Root of the pine problem

NEW technology has been introduced by Holdfast Bay Council to help its struggling Norfolk Island Pines survive.

Replants will be set in a deeper hole than normal which is filled with ``root cells’‘.

These are small plastic boxes in which the tree’s primary roots are directed to encourage them to grow deeper into the soil instead of shallow and long.

The method will also prevent the impact of roots on footpaths and paving.

The root cells also stop the soil from being compacted by foot and vehicle traffic.

S.O.P · 1st November 2010, 08:36 PM

Designing 'root cells' for replants. Interesting.

I can offer a simple solution for future development. How about giving the trees a little bit of room to grow? You know, some mulch and non-compacted soil?

Where I live, a massive redevelopment of a business district includes already in place Hoop Pines. Trees are already thinning and showing sign of stress, including a death. Some have only 1m2 exposed earth.

Without researching 'root cells', how do they change how the tree grows? A lot of fine root activity is in the top portion of the soil, designed to pick up small amounts of water. How do these deep roots find small amounts of rain, or oxygen?

Eric Frei · 1st November 2010, 08:49 PM

Silva cells are most marketed, great idea.

I think this video is one of the best that shows how it all works.

YouTube - DeepRoot Silva Cell Installation.wmv

Soil is not compacted below surface when driven over, better use of the land.

You Tube

S.O.P · 1st November 2010, 09:41 PM

What's the longest time one has been in place? Do they fertilise to replace the nutrients used? The second video has permeable paving, the first has bitumen? I still think a healthy mulch layer is the best thing for the trees, I don't see why you couldn't combine the best of both worlds with that setup. I've read some of the pdfs on here that have interesting designs of street trees with adjacent green areas and structural soils adjoining them (for natural health).

And, like a giant pot, the tree has a theoretical size limit so tree choice is important. What happens if it dries out (rewetting a pot is difficult)? Seems like more maintenance than made out to be.

I have an idea for urban trees that is almost the exact opposite to this. It's crazy but I don't see why it wouldn't work. So much so, I have 7 Ficus macrophylla seedlings I am going to try in various mockups ranging from small to largish and see how large (and healthy) I can get them to grow.

Eric Frei · 13th December 2011, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Frei

Perhaps it's the same as in Wollongong, not too far apart these cities.

Soil tests come up with nothing.

Specialists aim to get to root of pines disease - Local News - News - General - Newcastle Herald

30 Norfolk pines in Hannell Street were removed as no improvement from treatment to the disease.

Diseased Norfolk Island pine trees removed from Wickham - Local News - News - General - Newcastle Herald

Quote:

Diseased Norfolk Island pine trees removed from Wickham
FRANCES THOMPSON
11 Dec, 2011 05:00 PM

AILING Norfolk Island pine trees at Wickham with a disease that threatened the health of other similar trees in Newcastle were removed today.

Thirty pine trees growing on the median strip on Hannell Street suffered from a pathogen, which was discovered last year.

Newcastle City Council infrastructure services manager John Johnston says the trees needed to be removed to reduce the risk of the disease spreading to the remainder of the city’s pine population.

“We discovered that a number of pines were dying and enlisted the Royal Botanical Gardens Sydney to assist with testing, treating and monitoring these pines,’’ Mr Johnston said.

He said the trees were suffering from several problems but the pathogen was the likely cause of their decline.

All efforts to save the trees failed, Mr Johnston said.

The council said the disease could spread to the city’s estimated 2200 pine population.

The most important groups of city pines are those on the Foreshore and King Edward Park.

A design for replacement planting in Hannell Street will be prepared in accordance with the street tree master plan, Mr Johnston said.

The council plans to replace the pines in 2013.

Also there is a video you can watch in this link.

http://www.nbntv.com.au/index.php/20...o-be-cut-down/

Victor Lindsay · 13th December 2011, 08:42 PM

Very interesting.

The Botryosphaeria strain is typically an opportunistic pathogen, causing disease on plants that are stressed, and there is no effective fungicide controls that i know of.

26th July 2010, 08:49 AM	#3
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,996	Re: Wollongong Heritage Norfolk to be felled due to Botryosphaeria fungi You'd find it would be a compost tea with tricho in it, that's my bet. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

1st November 2010, 08:36 PM	#6
S.O.P Sappling Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Brisbane Posts: 32	Re: Wollongong Heritage Norfolk to be felled due to Botryosphaeria fungi Designing 'root cells' for replants. Interesting. I can offer a simple solution for future development. How about giving the trees a little bit of room to grow? You know, some mulch and non-compacted soil? Where I live, a massive redevelopment of a business district includes already in place Hoop Pines. Trees are already thinning and showing sign of stress, including a death. Some have only 1m2 exposed earth. Without researching 'root cells', how do they change how the tree grows? A lot of fine root activity is in the top portion of the soil, designed to pick up small amounts of water. How do these deep roots find small amounts of rain, or oxygen?

1st November 2010, 09:41 PM	#8
S.O.P Sappling Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Brisbane Posts: 32	Re: Wollongong Heritage Norfolk to be felled due to Botryosphaeria fungi What's the longest time one has been in place? Do they fertilise to replace the nutrients used? The second video has permeable paving, the first has bitumen? I still think a healthy mulch layer is the best thing for the trees, I don't see why you couldn't combine the best of both worlds with that setup. I've read some of the pdfs on here that have interesting designs of street trees with adjacent green areas and structural soils adjoining them (for natural health). And, like a giant pot, the tree has a theoretical size limit so tree choice is important. What happens if it dries out (rewetting a pot is difficult)? Seems like more maintenance than made out to be. I have an idea for urban trees that is almost the exact opposite to this. It's crazy but I don't see why it wouldn't work. So much so, I have 7 Ficus macrophylla seedlings I am going to try in various mockups ranging from small to largish and see how large (and healthy) I can get them to grow.

13th December 2011, 08:42 PM	#10
Victor Lindsay Mature tree Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: ? Posts: 441	Re: Wollongong Heritage Norfolk to be felled due to Botryosphaeria fungi Very interesting. The Botryosphaeria strain is typically an opportunistic pathogen, causing disease on plants that are stressed, and there is no effective fungicide controls that i know of.

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