ibonsai
Seed
Red Band seems to spreading all across North America on certain pines and other conifers. I have seen it in the wild while collecting Pinus contorta. The disease spreads rapidly in the spring to summer. I have managed to control on my own trees - I use the word control you will never be able to eliminate the disease.
Control:
1- Clean up all old needles and burn
2- Sanitize all tools used for cutting
3- The disease can be spread by simple contact with your hands from tree to tree
4- I use a wettable copper powder ( several different formulations) and I spray every 10 to 14 days starting in May especially making sure the new needles are covered as they emerge from the candles. Copper spray is non-phytotoxic
5- Now comes the fall this is when needlecasts start infecting the foliage. I never worried too much about the needlecasts but if you followed the previous steps you should be ok.
6- With September approaching I switch my spray program to Daconil (Chlorothalonil) leaves a light white coloring on the needles. Same thing again I spray once a month during the dormant season.
Make sure these products are continuously agitated while using and please read the label. Once before you measure, again before you mix and again before you spray. Read the label everytime you use these fungicides.
BTW stay away from products like Captan.
Anton
Control:
1- Clean up all old needles and burn
2- Sanitize all tools used for cutting
3- The disease can be spread by simple contact with your hands from tree to tree
4- I use a wettable copper powder ( several different formulations) and I spray every 10 to 14 days starting in May especially making sure the new needles are covered as they emerge from the candles. Copper spray is non-phytotoxic
5- Now comes the fall this is when needlecasts start infecting the foliage. I never worried too much about the needlecasts but if you followed the previous steps you should be ok.
6- With September approaching I switch my spray program to Daconil (Chlorothalonil) leaves a light white coloring on the needles. Same thing again I spray once a month during the dormant season.
Make sure these products are continuously agitated while using and please read the label. Once before you measure, again before you mix and again before you spray. Read the label everytime you use these fungicides.
BTW stay away from products like Captan.
Anton
