[CANUFNET] Re: Tree Growth Regulators

[Chris Gooderham (Mac)]

Hi Ian:

I forwarded your question along to Bruce McGauley from the forest  
city, (London, ON) and received the response below.
His point about the education campaign and species diversification is  
worth noting.

Regards,
Chris





Re the London Plane question, - There are some products available in  
the fruit production circles I believe that will impact on blossom  
and fruit production - particularly in apples and other commercial  
fruits. I am not sure that they are referred to as growth regulators  
though. I would check with the ag folks at the provincial level and  
then have to run some checks with the manufacturers to see if there  
might be some info on London Plane. If no trials were done, the folks  
in BC would have to experiment to see if the products are effective.

The danger here is that if you get on the treadmill of controlling  
fruit production in one species, it may spread to other species. An  
education program to teach folks that trees do these things and be  
tolerant is a better approach. The other thing it points out is the  
need for species diversity. Don't plant all the same tree in an area.  
Perhaps there is an opportunity to remove some trees and interplant  
with non London Plane and teach this lesson - and at the same time  
reduce the problem. The caution here is to get everyone on board wrt  
which trees are to be removed and why so you don't pit one neighbour  
against another.


Bruce McGauley MScF, RPF
ACFOR
10 Gwendolyn St. (BIRR),
RR#4, DENFIELD, ONT.,
N0M 1P0


From: Ian Wilson <IWilson at kelowna.ca>
Date: October 19, 2007 10:39:07 AM EDT (CA)
To: urbNRnet <urbNRnet at LIST.TREELINK.ORG>, Canadian Urban Forest  
Network <canufnet at list.web.net>
Subject: [CANUFNET] Tree Growth Regulators
Reply-To: Canadian Urban Forest Network <canufnet at list.web.net>

Hi all,

Does anybody know if tree growth regulators can be used to inhibit  
the production of the furry "fruit" balls on London plane trees?

We have one street with beautiful mature plane trees but the  
neighbours hate the fur-balls and some folks are allergic to the hairs.

thanks, Ian

Ian Wilson, MPM, RPF, Certified Arborist
Urban Forestry Supervisor
Parks
City of Kelowna Recreation, Parks and Cultural Services

Phone: (250) 469-8842
Fax: (250) 862-3335
Parks
1359 KLO Road
Kelowna, B.C., V1W 3N8
www.kelowna.ca
iwilson at kelowna.ca

  
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