Might think about calling the cops.

Sounds like someone was trying to destroy your tree.

It also could be a drying agent, with a moisture sensitive blue dye.

The problem is the amount. A couple of tablespoons per 1000 sq ft is good. Half a gallon over the area you're talking about is bad news for tree roots.

You did say the tree is fenced in.

Are you considering documenting the incident with the police? Before you do so, obviously consult your wife. I'm sure I don't have to tell you that though.

If you have a propane torch or gas grill outside when it gets dark find an ole spoon you do not care about, put one of the crystals in it and hold it over the flame. If it is copper sulfate it will burn GREEN. It can also be done inside over a gas flame on your cook top, just make sure you have good ventilation and do not breath the fumes.

A half gallon in a small(I'm picturing less than a 10 sq foot) area?

If it is Copper Sulfate and I am 90% sure it is, It is benign and used in organic gardening to control fungal diseases, in aquariums to treat fish parasites, an din lake and ponds as an algaecide. Heck it is even included in children's chemistry sets.

I would just rake up as much as it as possible and not worry about it. Gardeners use it all the time to spray tomato plants and used extensively in commercial farming on mellons and various of cash crops.

Most everything available on copper sulfate and tree root damage states that it's effects are localized and that it affects are not carried from the roots it contacts up into the tree.

So I think its a wash. It's not good, but it wont kill the tree.

My comment was not about you, nor was it my personal opinion of the Empress tree, and I am sorry you took it that way. It was meant as a suggestion as to who might have done this act and a possible motive.

The white substance might simply be impurities? Copper sulfate, as a mined compound, would naturally have inclusions of other stuff. It might even be something added in manufacturing to prevent the crystals from sticking together. If you type Copper Sulfate into google images you'll see what I mean.

I'd be worried that your tree killer may be back with something more difficult to detect, such as a liquid herbicide. I'm glad that you've taken some steps to prevent it from happening again.

Understood. I really do appreciate the ideas. Thanks.

Hopefully those deer cameras will nab the perp. That's just awful what they did. Was the gate unlocked and the perp just walked in, or is there a lock on the gate so the perp actually hopped the fence?

Thank you for your concern, but we are shy to talk about it and we wish to remain "on-topic."

The fence was closed, but just hitched with clips. Anyone could climb over it. We are half way into putting up 8 ft. hardwood board fences. I do think electronic-photo use is the only answer. Wish it was otherwise. Thanks.

We have tried the flame test,in several ways,and there is no sense of green on flame or smoke, The spoon leaves a bit of the bright blue on it, plus a black carbon-like substance on it. The smoke might be slightly blue-gray, but not sure. The smell of the smoke is a semi-strong sense of burnt rubber and an indescribable sharp smell, almost acid remotely like vinegar. Thanks.

The flame needs to actually touch the copper sulfate.

Heating it up on a spoon like crack(for lack of a better description) won't produce the decribed result. LOL!

I've been considering the x10.com camera but haven't done much research on cameras yet.

This is the refill packet for the Miracle Gro hose end sprayer system.

Two, the Miracle Gro product is much finer.

Some of the pictured crystals are a 1/4" long.

You're talking about a granular hose end product. It dissolves pretty damn fast with very little agitation.

It is readily available product, and can be purchased in any hardware store in a 5 gallon bucket.....which sounds like what he observed when he discovered this. It is often referred to as "root killer".

Iowa, if you were able to remove most of this stuff, I think your tree will be fine. I wish you and your wife all the best.

Sending blessings to you and your Princess. Hope it flowers for you next spring.

Instead, think bug bait. It is for baiting flies. The insects. It's a poison.

I have used several deer cams in the past, but now prefer the Bushnell Trail Sentry, the Night Vision version. Won't flash at night if you choose, but can use infrared to take picture without scaring away game or suspects. Takes still photos or 30 sec. videos when triggered. Senses something well at 50 ft. I use still so batteries last longer. Batteries don't seem to hold up as long as they claim. Usually it will take several hundred shot before replacement of 4 D Size batteries when they get down to about 1.45 volts each. You can get a solar adapter, however. Bought a factory reconditioned one on Ebay for 68.00. Am buying more. Also, a little hard to program, but gets easier with experience. Still can't figure out how to get the pink tone out of daylight shots when using infrared rather than a flash (does both.) But it is suitable for my purposes.

Golden Marlin is actually blue like in the photos.

We have the attention of the authorities and samples were sent to two different labs for analysis. All are very concerned about not just the tree or pets, but adults and kids.

Will keep all posted.

After showing a sample of the granules to my pharmacist, who is also a farmer, and to three owners of the big local farm and home store, all thought it was Blue/Golden Malrin. All thought it was not copper sulfate. They've worked with both. So I bought a can of Malrin, but it really differs from the product put around the tree.

Granule size is similar, but Malrin is a chalky light blue with soft rounded edges, whereas the suspect granules are glossy, much brighter and deeper in color, and with sharp edges. More like glass. Malrin has a strong carrion smell(the fly attractant) and my stuff doesn't have hardly any smell when dry. As I probably said before, there is a slight sulfurous smell when dry, and when burned, a medium burned rubber smell with a high and sharp smell that is like an extremely acidic, refined vinegar. Not powerful.

The granules become a gooey like carbon substance when burned.

We are having the lab check for Malrin, Copper Sulphate (in case my flame test was inadequate,) and general fertilizer.

They do need specific ranges of chemicals to test. I'm thinking it might be a spreadable broadleaf lawn herbicide, commonly used around here, but the range of them is many.

So any new suggestions for testing would be appreciated.

Thanks again to all.

PS: Hopefully not Malrin, unless the product appearance has changed. Read the label. Really must be used with caution.

Does anyone know if dogs, cats or other animals are attracted to its taste or smell? Has some sulfur in it, too.

I think I can tell you where the sulfur comes from in copper SULFATE.

Not true at all. It was correctly identified in Post 2, 4, 5, and 9.

Attracted to it no. Copper Sulfate is a listed ingredient in most pet foods. However in large doses is toxic, but no pets will be attracted to it.