>Marshall- I add the Cs to a SOLO backpack 4 gallon sprayer mixed usually with Malthion and regular water. Then I spray the needles of the tree or the root area and trunk if the tree has a root rot. Usually I mixed 4 ounces of Cs to the 4 gallon tank. Last year I was making Cs at 8 ma and this mix seemed to be helping. This year I shut off at 4 ma and still have lots of sick trees. The trees with rust still have rust. The rust is said to be spread by cottonwood trees like Poplars. I was thinking of going back to 8 ma Cs for tree spray. I use well water for the Cs tree spray. When I cut out a sick tree I spray the stump with Cs using a Wall Mart spray bottle.
Brickey, Since rust is a fungus, it makes sense that CS would help control or kill it. My Sunset Western Garden Problem Solver says spores can travel 300 miles via the wind, tho most don't travel that far. Spores may also spread via the gardener's handling when the plant is wet. Spores become active during moist weather, or after rain or overhead watering, when they are spread by wind and splashing water. If you must overhead water the plant or tree, it is best to do so during sunlight hours, so the plant/tree can dry before dusk. The book suggests sulphur, neem oil, or any fungicide containing propiconazole. We're in southern california, so don't get much rain and none of my pines have rust, tho I've encountered problems with borers in monterey pines and a norfolk pine that gets mites. Can't imagine life without my solo backpack sprayer! Been wanting to test vinegar as a 'natural' spray, since I feed all trimmings to my livestock and am unsure how to treat if feeding them CS trimmings (requiring probiotics since they're ruminants). Vinegar kills fungus also, as well as flies (which we have that sleep in the pine needles), yellow jackets, etc. , so would benefit me in many ways. Can you send me a test pine with rust? (Just kidding). Or some spores in the mail (too risky, USPS might think it's anthrax!) Julie & Critters
