Is this a drill hole?

[SallyRZ]

A few months ago, a small tree which had established itself in our front garden (sorry, I don't know the type) suddenly started dropping its leaves and within a few days it was dead. As the tree is by our fence, and the neighbour had recently complained about the leaves touching his phone wire, I assumed he was the culprit. I've just read that one clue to poisoning is the presence of drill holes, and while there's nothing around the base under the soil, I think I've found one about 30 inches up. I realise there's no proof, especially at this late stage, but I was wondering whether the attached photo does show a drill hole, or is it just a coincidence?

Edited June 11, 2015 by SallyRZ

[sloth]

I couldn't say with 100% certainty without seeing the tree 'in the flesh', but it certainly looks like a drill hole...

[matelot]

it looks like a wound that has been there for years?

 

is there an actual hole? can you stick a pencil in?

[Stubby]

looks like a dead limb as come off and it was trying to heal itself . good opertuninty to poor something in though . can you smell any chemical at the hole ?

[SallyRZ]

The hole isn't quite wide enough for a pencil but I put a needle in and it went in about 9mm. I can't smell any chemicals, but then again it's been a few months and I didn't know to check at the time. All the other dead limb ends look like this (ie a couple of rings round, and there isn't a hole as such):

[SallyRZ]

In case this is relevant, the only other living thing in the earth around the tree was a lavender bush, which died at the same time.

[Stubby]

unless you want to pay for a toxicolagey report on the lavender and tree then its pure speculation . You could come right out and ask him how he did it !

[SallyRZ]

You're right really, Stubby - it's just that after 20 years of him moaning about the trees (he has no greenery in his garden and so doesn't much like any of ours near the property boundary), conversations are normally one way ie he whinges, then turns his back. And it's not as if the trees aren't pollarded regularly. One of those childish disputes I'm sure you come across a lot in your line of work! But next time he comes round for another whinge, I will ask him in the way you suggest, and watch for the shifty expression...

 

I did wonder whether just one drill hole not very deep and quite high up would have been enough to kill the tree, but from the comments it's obviously possible.

 

Thank you for all the quick replies.

[geoff]

That does look to have had some human influence to my eyes on blowing the image up.

[cornish wood burner]

Doesn't look the right shape for a drill hole to me. Even if it was drilled at an angle it would then be elliptical but this looks like it has almost a pointed top.