|
 These days there are lots of organic options available for tree nutrition and pest protection.
The main reason to consider organic solutions is that chemical products - while effective for their intended use - can create a cycle of repetition because the chemicals make the tree and its surrounding soil dependent on the chemicals. It's like drug addiction for trees.
In the soil, chemical regimens deprive organisms or replace or kill them.
One method today is to use "compost tea" (compost brewed with water). It really does look like strong iced tea, but it carries nutrients and organisms like those you find in fully functioning soil systems. The tea also helps fight fungal diseases.
If you use chemicals and you end up with sterile soil you have to keep using chemicals. A great source for information on compost tea and other approaches can be found at Soil Foodweb, Inc. http://www.soilfoodweb.com/
There are also a lot of organic fertilizers using fishmeal and guano that are excellent.
Protecting trees, like nourishing them, can be achieved with organic methods, too. In a forest setting you find fungal elements that have symbiotic relationships with trees that put back more than they take away from their hosts.
If you want to keep a tree healthy, the best way is to avoid having to use insecticides. Spraying beetles also kills beneficial insects. And you can also create an environment in which pests have no predators.
Pesticides are best avoided if at all possible. Some times they are your only option, but if you can avoid spraying dangerous chemicals 60 feet in the air, it's probably worth it for the tree and any nearby humans! |
