Halp! I have a 60 ft tall pin oak looming over the house. This morning I discovered a termite colony had been eating into the base. The damage is about the size of a football at this point. I carefully dug out the damaged wood (plenty of active termites) and applied a liberal amount of commercial insecticide (Ortho's "Bug-B-Gone")with a hose sprayer. Prognosis anyone? Will the oak be joining me by the fireplace this winter?

Reply to post by Harry Jacobson, on August 19, 2000 at 18:58:58:

Termites and carpenter ants are not the problem in trees. Both live in dead (inactive) wood, and do not cross into the living parts of the tree. The real problem here is the decay that was already present before the termites.

When a tree is injured, it begins a series of chemical adaptations within the wood to slow or prevent spreading of decay. Decay fungi enter the wound and begin to dissolve it. The chemical 'barriers' the tree creates may slow the progress of the decay, but don't stop it completely toward the inside of the tree. The critters are living in this partly decayed wood.

The tree also sets up a barrier around the cambium, between wood and bark. This barrier is nearly 100% effective in preventing decay from spreading outward into new wood that grows after the injury. The barrier also serves to confine the insects.

It would be a good idea to have the pin oak inspected by a qualified arborist, to determine how extensive the decay is and whether any action is needed. The American Society of Consulting Arborists can recommend highly qualified arborists and consultants in your area. Their web site and database is at

http://www.asca-consultants.org

or contact the main office at

American Society of Consulting Arborists
15245 Shady Grove Road
Suite 130
Rockville, MD 20850
(301) 947-0483

The International Society of Arboriculture maintains a current list of ISA Certified Arborists. The searchable list can be accessed at the ISA Web site, at:
http://www.isa-arbor.com