The government has brought in harvesting regulations. Bark stripping is allowed every 9 years, the required height of a tree before it can be stripped is 1.2 metres, with a width of 70 centimetres.

Cork trees have a life span of 300-400 years

To help reduce risk to your home its advised that you keep clear a 50 metre perimeter around your property.

• never discard an unextinguished cigarette
• do not light barbecues
• do not leave rubbish or empty bottles behind

1. Maintain a paved area of 1 to 2 meters around your house
2. Reduce tree height to 4 meters and clear 4 meters between each tree
3. Remove trees and shrubs that are less than 5 metres from your house
4. Regularly strim and clear a 50 meter perimiter around your house
5. Regularly strim and clear a 50 meter perimiter around all outbuildings
6. Store unused gas bottles and other flamable substances in an isolated store 50 meters from your house
7. Store unused firewood 50 meters from your house

• Vegetable peelings
• fruit waste
• teabags
• plant prunings
• grass cuttings

• Cardboard egg boxes
• Scrunched up paper
• Leaves

• Cooked vegetables
• Meat and dairy products
• Diseased plants
• Dog poo or cat litter
• Perennial weeds

After approximately 6-9 months your compost will be ready.

The pinewood nematode is carried to the pine trees by the Saywer Beetle when the beetles feed on the bark (primary transmission)and when the female beetle lays her eggs (secondary transmission).

Nematodes introduced during primary transmission can reproduce rapidly in the sapwood and a susceptible host can wilt and die within weeks of being infested.

The nematode is a microscopic worm that rapidly reproduces inside the tree blocking its sap route and essentially starving it to death. There are no cures for pine wilt disease so mangement is limited to prevention. All pine trees showing symptons should be felled immediately and the bark removed.

Removing the bark from felled trees prevents the female Saywer Beetle from laying her eggs and transporting the nematode to nearby trees.

Source of information and image: United States Department of Agriculture

The black walnut’s rich green leaf extends to an overall 12 to 24 inches and is made up of 15 to 23 leaflets. Each single leaflet can be 2 to 3 inches long.

The black walnut’s oil is dark brown and will stain skin and surfaces. Therefore, wearing gloves is recommended when handling the nuts or portions of the tree.

Black walnut is a contraindication for pregnancy in humans and animals and is also poisonous to dogs and horses.

Owners should be aware of the dangers of exposing their animals to bedding that could contain walnut bark, wood, or hulls and should not allow their dogs to eat or chew the nuts or wood of the black walnut.

Black walnut’s poisonous toxin is called juglone, which is present in nearly all parts of the tree, including the roots. This property is known to adversely affect other plants in proximity to the black walnut. The negative effect can range from killing other plants and trees to causing them to do poorly.

Plants especially susceptible include tomatoes, blackberries, peonies, chrysanthemums, potatoes, asparagus, alfalfa and lilacs. Plants poisoned by the black walnut will exhibit wilting, stunting and death, caused mainly by their root systems uptaking the juglone given off by the black walnut's root system.

Source of information: suite101.com

For more information read the Kansas State Research and Extension, "Walnut Wilt" fact sheet