
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 5, 1994                    TAG: 9406030108 
SECTION: HOME                     PAGE: H4    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: ROBERT STIFFLER 
DATELINE: 940605                                 LENGTH: Medium

READERS SUGGEST SOLUTIONS TO DEARTH OF PECANS ON TREE

{LEAD} I suspect that an application of zinc sulfate will solve the problem of the non-producing pecan trees one of your readers recently wrote about. (The reader had written that he was getting no nuts from his pecan trees that were 5 to 10 years old.) I believe a pound of the chemical is necessary for each inch of tree diameter. In earlier days, galvanized nails were often driven into the tree to provide zinc, says Roger B. Yepsen Jr in ``Organic Plant Protection'' (Rodale Press, 1976).

My trees were 10 years old and had not produced nuts until the year I applied zinc sulfate. It is available in 50-pound bags at Norfolk Feed and Seed in Portsmouth.

{REST} G.E. Gaddis, Suffolk

You had a letter recently from a reader at Rudee Inlet whose pecan trees had not produced fruit for two years. I live on Roanoke Island, N.C., and we have a grove of pecan trees that my grandfather planted. Last year, we did not have a single pecan because of the infamous March storm of 1993. It blew all the blossoms off the trees. Since Rudee Inlet is also by the ocean, perhaps your reader had the same problem.

Virginia Zdanski, Manteo, N.C.

I continue to be amazed and pleased at how gardeners help one another by sharing information. The letters above share gardening secrets learned first-hand.

I would like your response to the procedure of Norfolk Parks and Forestry to spray herbicide in city-owned parks around trees, shrubs and edges. This is done without any warning to prevent children or pets from playing in the treated areas. Apparently this is done periodically to keep maintenance costs down. But how healthy is this for our urban environment and what kind of example is the city setting?

Tench Phillips, Naro Cinema, Norfolk

Many cities spray around trees and sidewalks with Roundup to eliminate edging. Lawnmowers and string trimmers unfortunately do much more damage to trees than does Roundup.

I felt the city of Norfolk should answer your questions, so here is a reply from Sidney C. Baker, superintendent of the Department of Parks and Recreation:

``Norfolk's Bureau of Parks and Forestry practices Integrated Pest Management (IPM). It is a holistic approach practiced by the green industry in controlling various pest organisms. IPM is a decision-making process for determining if, when and where pest treatment is needed and what strategy will provide the most cost-effective and environmentally sensitive control. Treatments are made only when target pest populations exceed pre-established thresholds sufficient to result in unacceptable economic, public health or aesthetic damage. Treatments are chosen and timed to be most effective and least disruptive to the environment and natural control mechanisms. In a nutshell, it is our policy to select the pesticide that is safest and most effective for the target pest and the environment and also for applicators, people or animals likely to be exposed to the chemical.

``In order to prevent competition of weeds and the possibility of their spreading diseases or harboring insects, it is necessary to control weeds as part of the cultural practices for our plants. Parks and Forestry is extremely environmentally sensitive in the selection and use of pesticides (which includes herbicides) in our managed landscapes. In most areas, herbicide use is restricted to well-defined landscaped beds, in grassy medians, parks, schools and other public grounds. To a lesser extent, pesticide applications are made during low-use periods to turf in parks, which support athletic activities or cultural events. We are extremely selective in what, when, why, how and where we use any pesticides. Parks and Forestry employees that apply pesticides must be certified with the Virginia Department of Agriculture as a Commercial Pesticide Applicator or Registered Technician and are required by federal law to follow label directions, which include posting requirements. Almost without exception, pesticides utilized in public areas are general-use pesticides (i.e.. Roundup, Sevin, Malathion, Dipel, etc.) which are registered for residential use. Because of their relative low toxicity, posting is not required after application. These pesticides, when properly applied, present no threat to the general public or animals.

``In conclusion, we would invite any concerned citizens to call our office (441-2435) with any questions they may have regarding the Bureau's pest management programs. Office hours are 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.'' by CNB