Shot-hole borer information session well attended by locals
ILLOVO – Locals learn how to care for their trees in an attempt to banish the infamous shot-hole borer beetle.
Community members flocked to a public awareness talk on shot-hole borer hosted by The Forum Company in Illovo on 3 July.
A number of speakers gave residents advice on how to deal with the problem and suggested some ways of moving forward to bring about a more coordinated response to the problem.
Arborist Anton Moller said, “While shot-hole borer is not treatable, there is still a lot that can be done to help.”
Moller expressed his disappointment at the manner in which the Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo is dealing with the problem, saying that more action needs to be taken soon.
“Why are trees losing the fight to resist this disease? The answer is that we treat trees badly. There are many stressed trees with restricted roots out there,” said Moller.
City Parks commits to more engagement with community regarding shot-hole-borer
He advised residents to mulch their trees and remove the grass directly underneath trees, which takes many of the nutrients from the trees.
He suggested a number of ways that residents can help trees including: efforts to improve soil health, pressurising the polyphagous shot-hole borer (PSHB), creating public awareness, lobbying government, supporting research and service providers and planting many trees immediately.
Dr Hugh Laurens also discussed his work using Energy Broadcast Towers to emit frequencies that send the beetles away, which Houghton resident Glenda Wheeler has installed on her property.
Wheeler, who has monitored the treatment of 21 trees infested with shot-hole borer on her property in Houghton, proposed the solution of forming a private, independent organisation where various stakeholders collaborate to deal with the borer.
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City Parks commits to more engagement with community regarding shot-hole-borer
