Copper earth electrode use "banned"?

killing off trees with copper nails is something my grandfather used to do, to discourage suckers rising from the roots after felling. I'm not sure how well it really works, or if it is so much theatre, and the  digging them up to get to the roots is the major part.  He also used DDT, killed weeds with diesel and a number of other things we now would not do.

And a number of folk seem to thing it is so much witchcraft.


Equally we put copper sulphate (or sulfate if you must Americanize the language) on soil for some citrus plants to improve yield and reduce the risk of certain types of Fungus.

I have no idea about the sensitivity of what I presume is 'white lime' or 'linden' and not limes the fruits like green lemons.


Given that the whole point is that the copper rod is not dissolving away over many years (unlike say steel or Aluminium)  I would suggest that unless you spike through or really near to the roots, the effect from a small earth rod, even a no. of them is small as most of the copper atoms stay on the rod.

Equally for a no-copper solution then galvanised steel can be used (scaff poles whacked in by tractor bucket may not look elegant, but they make a solid connection ) or even stainless could be substituted if he is bothered. However, if the trees are failing, I'd be looking for additional factors (water table, soakaway, spilt  cleaning products, leaking foul drains  etc are very real problems for trees )

killing off trees with copper nails is something my grandfather used to do, to discourage suckers rising from the roots after felling. I'm not sure how well it really works, or if it is so much theatre, and the  digging them up to get to the roots is the major part.  He also used DDT, killed weeds with diesel and a number of other things we now would not do.

And a number of folk seem to thing it is so much witchcraft.


Equally we put copper sulphate (or sulfate if you must Americanize the language) on soil for some citrus plants to improve yield and reduce the risk of certain types of Fungus.

I have no idea about the sensitivity of what I presume is 'white lime' or 'linden' and not limes the fruits like green lemons.


Given that the whole point is that the copper rod is not dissolving away over many years (unlike say steel or Aluminium)  I would suggest that unless you spike through or really near to the roots, the effect from a small earth rod, even a no. of them is small as most of the copper atoms stay on the rod.

Equally for a no-copper solution then galvanised steel can be used (scaff poles whacked in by tractor bucket may not look elegant, but they make a solid connection ) or even stainless could be substituted if he is bothered. However, if the trees are failing, I'd be looking for additional factors (water table, soakaway, spilt  cleaning products, leaking foul drains  etc are very real problems for trees )