Being Green - 19 July 2019
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In this week’s edition of Being Green, Glynis Crook was joined in the studio by Cape Town’s mayoral committee member for community services and health, Zahid Badroodien, for an update on two dangers facing trees in the city: the illegal stripping of bark off indigenous trees and an infestation by a tree-killing beetle fungus.
In terms of the polyphagous shot hole borer, he said it’s important that people do not cut down an infected tree themselves, as special care needs to be taken throughout the removal process.
Instead, they should report a sighting by going to: https://www.capetowninvasives.org.za/shot-hole-borer.
Alternatively they can call: 0860 103 089
Giving an exact location of the tree is very important.
The most common symptoms are:
- Gum or sap oozing on the bark
- Visible entry and exit holes
- Sugary secretion
- Sawdust visible around holes
- Fungal staining on sapwood or outer bark
- Dieback of part of the tree or the entire tree
In terms of the polyphagous shot hole borer, he said it’s important that people do not cut down an infected tree themselves, as special care needs to be taken throughout the removal process.
Instead, they should report a sighting by going to: https://www.capetowninvasives.org.za/shot-hole-borer.
Alternatively they can call: 0860 103 089
Giving an exact location of the tree is very important.
The most common symptoms are:
- Gum or sap oozing on the bark
- Visible entry and exit holes
- Sugary secretion
- Sawdust visible around holes
- Fungal staining on sapwood or outer bark
- Dieback of part of the tree or the entire tree
