tree pests

[14767]

Can anyone help with my problem?
I have apple trees in my garden, as do many of my neighbours.  Now mine have become infested with Wooly Aphis & none of the chemicals available to us today will get rid of them.  They've been there for a couple of years and my trees have stopped producing fruit and so they have to go.  I'm also concerned about them spreading to my neighbours of course.

The question is pretty obvious on this forum - can I use the wood for turning or will it increase the risk of spreading the little blighters ?

Thanks,
Bob

[BrianH]

Hi Bob
Apple wood is lovely to turn and I can't see any way that lathework could spread the insects. BUT, cutting the tree down and then storing and drying the wood might well encourage them to go house-hunting. My suggestion might be to remove the bark..... with a drawknife perhaps.... while the tree is standing. Burn the bark immediately and go from there.
All the best
Brian

[14767]

Hey Brian,

That sounds like a possibility to me.  Would be a crying shame to lose all that wood.

Thanks
Bob