April 26, 2010
Identifying & Fighting Oak Galls
There are about 600 gall insects that attack oak trees throughout the United States, and it appears that galls are becoming more prevalent, as I’m hearing growers ask each other what different control measures are they trying or the frequent question: "what’s working for you."
First make sure it’s a gall -
First make sure it’s a gall -
Lecanium scale could be confused as a gall. They form in brownish clusters on twigs; an untrained employee could be confused.
Gall wasps are typically what everybody is talking about when they refer to oak gall. There are four generations per year, so timing of the control is difficult at best and is probably more luck than science. Chemical spraying with sevin just prior to leaf out gave me marginal control at best 2 years ago, and I think that’s what most people have adopted as a control.
Last year money became tight due to the economy, so I scrapped that method and focused on the immune system of the tree, pulling soil samples and reviewing tree fertility. Galls typically migrate to trees under some type of stress (as do all insects) from soil improperly balanced with nutrients. Keep this in mind: plants are governed by the nutrients that are in short supply not by those in abundant supply. Florida soils are sandy and short on magnesium. Sulfur also comes into play, as it has a direct relationship with a tree's immune system as do many other elements. So what I’m saying is, review your program to make sure your soil nutrition is on track. Choose to spend your money on a quality fertilizer program and avoid the toxic chemical rescue as it compromises your plants' immune systems.
One product that I am currently experimenting with (but have not drawn any final conclusions on yet) is Bio-Forge. It claims to trigger a gene inside the tree which turns on the immune system. This program of balanced soil along with Bio-Forge has shown better results this year vs the old chemical method. The final proof will be if I can duplicate the results this coming year.
If you have any questions or comments, please call Bent Oak Tree Farm at (352) 245-5429, and ask for Todd Woodfield.
Gall wasps are typically what everybody is talking about when they refer to oak gall. There are four generations per year, so timing of the control is difficult at best and is probably more luck than science. Chemical spraying with sevin just prior to leaf out gave me marginal control at best 2 years ago, and I think that’s what most people have adopted as a control.
Last year money became tight due to the economy, so I scrapped that method and focused on the immune system of the tree, pulling soil samples and reviewing tree fertility. Galls typically migrate to trees under some type of stress (as do all insects) from soil improperly balanced with nutrients. Keep this in mind: plants are governed by the nutrients that are in short supply not by those in abundant supply. Florida soils are sandy and short on magnesium. Sulfur also comes into play, as it has a direct relationship with a tree's immune system as do many other elements. So what I’m saying is, review your program to make sure your soil nutrition is on track. Choose to spend your money on a quality fertilizer program and avoid the toxic chemical rescue as it compromises your plants' immune systems.
One product that I am currently experimenting with (but have not drawn any final conclusions on yet) is Bio-Forge. It claims to trigger a gene inside the tree which turns on the immune system. This program of balanced soil along with Bio-Forge has shown better results this year vs the old chemical method. The final proof will be if I can duplicate the results this coming year.
If you have any questions or comments, please call Bent Oak Tree Farm at (352) 245-5429, and ask for Todd Woodfield.
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