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Ohia “Shavings”
#1
My husband milled some Ohia - had cut years ago - & I was wondering if I could put the shavings all over in the flower beds, on fruit trees, on tea plants, etc...? I wasn’t sure if the wood was too acidic or something? Thanks for your insights!
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#2
Not knowing the cause of death of the trees, I would be much more concerned with spreading Ohia RODS (Ceratocystis huliohia) with your shavings & sawdust, into the wind, soil & water...

This CTAHR article highlights the concern of contaminating soil:
https://cms.ctahr.hawaii.edu/rod/THE-DISEASE

Midway down this Bus.Insider article is the wind-borne concern with sawdust:
https://www.hawaiibusiness.com/rapid-ohi...iis-water/

"In the Lab" gives some ideas on what to look to see if the wood maybe infected with Ceratocystis huliohia BEFORE working the wood:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8U8kyXG_lZQ

"Saving Ohia" is a great documentary film that hopefully will allow you to see the worth in careful management of your ohia waste:
https://savingohia.com
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#3
Wood shavings draw nutrients until decomposed. Add a little fertilizer if you put shavings down. You could also burn it as the ash wood be beneficial.
I would not work with any more Ohia though.
Puna: Our roosters crow first
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#4
Not knowing the cause of death of the trees, I would be much more concerned with spreading Ohia RODS (Ceratocystis huliohia) with your shavings & sawdust, into the wind, soil & water...


The above is true. However, if the ohia was milled from your property or directly nearby than it has already been doing the above stated spreading warning all this time naturally. That is unless your husband picked up every scrap of sawdust on the cutting site, (impossible) and cleaned up everything, including the chainsaw and any other tools used and his clothing and shoes with something like alcohol, (I believe this is recommended but practically ridiculous), and burned out the remaining stumps which might contain the disease too.
So in other words, in all likelyhood, taking the precautions are recommended but doubtful to make any difference in that circumstance.

If the cutting of the trees wasn't at your place, certainly don't use it, don't send it to the dump, maybe burn it as kindling?

If it was, probably don't need to worry about it as your place is already infected with it.
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#5
Burn it sorry


HPP

HPP
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#6
EW. the links I provided would have cleared up your misconceptions, as even MOVING THE shavings & cuttings can increase spread of RODS, if those logs DID have exposure.

I am pretty sure no-one would want to INTENTIONALLY add the shavings to soil that does not already have the disease... & even MOVING the shavings from one area of a property to another area can increase the airborne potential of spreading RODS, that was covered in the links...

I think we all need to be reminded that reducing all transmission routes is the best plan to reduce the spread of this devastating disease... ie. leave fallen logs/trees/shavings/sawdust where they are, & try to limit any spread of the material (some use tarps & such to further limit spread...)
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#7
That is unless your husband picked up every scrap of sawdust on the cutting site, (impossible)

My husband milled some Ohia - had cut years ago


Carey I have read those links.

You are probably right and better to be on the safe side...but:
As I asked before if the ohia was cut from the OP's property. If it was cut elsewhere and you have no ROD directly in your area then obviously take all precautions. If it was ROD ohias right there on the property then the damage is likely already done. There really is no way of cutting them down without spreading the disease. Burning sound good but not always an option.

Why do you suppose in a completely infested area, like say Leilani, there are tons of dead/ dying ohias and yet scattered groves of ones that are healthy even when surrounded by dead ones?

Do you really think that the spores hadn't reached those living, healthy trees yet? Very doubtful. More likely that those trees are stronger and more resistant. The spreading of the dust by natures own doing is probably much more effective than man's doing.

In truth they really don't know much about the virus.

spelling edit
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#8
EW: "In truth they really don't know much about the virus." ElysianWort on 01/18/2019
Actually, probably more is known to the scientists that you may know, to start with, they do know that Ceratocystis huliohiais are fungal species, not virus.

There are 2 know varietals, huliohia (changes the natural state of `ohia) and lukuohia (destroyer of `ohia). As the Hawai`ian names imply, there is a difference in the 2, though both will impair the water-conducting tissue of the `ohia, C. lukuohia is the more aggressive and deadly of the two, causing a systemic wilt that chokes off the water supply to the tree, but quickly – often causing the entire crown of the tree to go brown almost all at once.... this may be the differences in the effected trees in Leilani & is probably the reason some trees people thought were dead from RODS have regained vitality, as those most likely had C. huliohia, not C. lukuohia...

For those that need a video to clarify:
https://vimeo.com/258674532

From the "Rapid `Ohia Death Symposium" Spring 2018...

& I do know that conservation specialist actually do securely bag their cutting equipment, then take apart & clean the equipment when they have had to cut ohia, but they try to allow any dead ohia on our island to fall in place & not cut them if possible (no beetle/frass evidence)... At the national park, they try to isolate the saws used, to minimize potential of RODS spread...

Again, a video From the "Rapid `Ohia Death Symposium" Spring 2018:
https://vimeo.com/258662399

It is obvious, from the spread of this disease after Iselle, that many "average citizens" do not take these recommended measures.... just like you....

& these are the people that are assisting spreading the disease, so if you think it is not worth the bother, that is your opinion..... but that attitude will help to increase the spread of this disease....
Edit: Okinas corrected.
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#9
Actually, probably more is known to the scientists that you may know, to start with, they do know that Ceratocystis huliohiais are fungal species, not virus

I knew it was wasn't a virus, just my brain-fart there in typing. The previous part of my text talks about spores and they are obviously associated with fungus. Don't know of any virus spores.

I take precautions. Just not maybe to the extent that you or people on the links you added might like. I cut down the dead and dying ohias on my property because they are a hazard in falling. Preventing loss of life to my animals or damage to my structures are of more importance to me than being meticulously anal in prevention of a disease that takes out weak ohias and leaves stronger ones.

edited because of sickness causing brainfart
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#10
"ElysianWort: I knew it was a virus, just my brain-fart there in typing. "

RODS are fungal species, not virus.... No matter how many times you type it!

The OP had wanted to know if moving shavings & putting it as a mulch was advisable, & I gave links to state that it was not... Including the video that the RODS fungus species can live in soil over long duration... so moving shavings & inoculating soil in other locations would not be "taking precautions"!
I have no idea why you continue to beat your brand of precautions, & why you continue to type that this is a virus, but I was answering the OP!
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