Re: pine borer beetles tunnel into P. radiata

--- Stephen French <steev@monitor.net> wrote:


> 
> One of my favorite shorter substitutes for Pinus
> radiata is Myrica 
> californica, Pacific Wax Myrtle. It's native to the
> coast ranges of the 
> North American west coast from S. Calif. to British
> Columbia, Canada. 
> It gets around 25 feet high and wide unpruned and
> away from coastal 
> winds. I don't know how it does in other countries.
> It makes a great 

> screen and windbreak as well as a dark green
> background for perennials.
> 
> Steve French
> third year in a new location. Just starting a garden
> after spending 
> money and time on construction projects.

The Myrica is not exactly trouble free in drier, less
moist situations, as it seems to invariably attract
leaf thrips here in Berkeley/Oakland, especially if
grown dry without supplemental irrigation.  I wouldn't
recommend it for this reason.

Pinus radiata is probably on the way out as a popular
tree here in California, as the diesease and insect
problems have become more widely known.  It was
probably only really appropriate for coastal/fog
influenced climates in any case, as drought stress in
drier, more inland areas does make it more subject to
attack.  It is curious, however, to see that so many
Monterey Pines in well watered freeway landscapes in
heavy fog areas such as Highway 280 in Daly City/San
Bruno also seem to be suffering from borers, and this
would look to be ideal habitat for them, what with
heavy fog drip almost all summer adding considerably
to total precipitation.  There are still many gorgeous
100 year specimens to be seen here in the Berkeley
Hills and San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, which are
all very close to being within the last 10 to 20 years
of their natural lifespan.  Getting so big, and not
having much value as firewood(too much pitch), they
are rather expensive to remove.

I wonder if other species of California Closed Pine
such as P. contorta or P. muricata,(both of which are
considerably shorter and more garden sized), have any
greater resistance to the canker and pine borers?


David Feix
currently looking at a US$6700 bill to remove 2 100
year old, diseased and/or dead Monterey Pines from a
client's Alameda garden.



		
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