The Meripilus thread!

[woody paul]

I did all solid and sound.

[David Humphries]

It may be prudent to carry out a root investigation to check on extent of potential decay using an airspade.

 

 

 

 

 

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[Paul Cleaver]

agree with above meripilus on beech is lethal - I know some respectable arborists who wouldnt hesitate to fell without root investigation !!

[likeitorlumpit]

agree with above meripilus on beech is lethal - I know some respectable arborists who wouldnt hesitate to fell without root investigation !!

 

It would be very 'brave' to not fell. When we took down the meripilus beech in Sidcup (video should follow soon) a retired tree officer stopped by and couldn't believe anyone wouldn't because of the risk. When I mentioned that some suggest investigation/help he was flabbergasted. Has thinking on Meripilus recently changed. Is there hope and could you 100% be sure there wouldn't be a failure even with help.

[Paul Cleaver]

It would be very 'brave' to not fell. When we took down the meripilus beech in Sidcup (video should follow soon) a retired tree officer stopped by and couldn't believe anyone wouldn't because of the risk. When I mentioned that some suggest investigation/help he was flabbergasted. Has thinking on Meripilus recently changed. Is there hope and could you 100% be sure there wouldn't be a failure even with help.

 

I dont know if the thinking has changed much - perhaps others can comment on this.

As for felling a beech lot depends on other factors such as the proximity of the tree in relation to the people and property. A tree in woodland may be less prone to the wind

 

If there was meripilus all around the bole - then that would be of greatest concearn

 

If you are going to do root inspection then all support roots down to about 4" diameter are going to have to be thoroughly checked - thats quite a task

[David Humphries]

This has been posted before and is not exactly new thinking from Mr Forbes Laird, but it gives an interesting point of view worth considering.

 

http://www.flac.uk.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Monograph-on-Meripilus-giganteus.pdf

 

 

 

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[Paul Cleaver]

Thanks for that

[woody paul]

Some more info; Fungus is only on South East side, Have found out that a root barrier was put in between tree and house 3 years ago be insurance company. Root investigation on South East side would be a problem as wall and road close so air spade no good would need JCB.

[JonnyVine]

I did all solid and sound.

 

Paul

I would advise anyone not to underestimate the ability of this fungus, its a swine, all the symptoms you have described, good crown, roots apear sound etc are typical and caught me out many years ago, fortunately the only thing damaged was pride.

The type of decay is quite similar to K. deusta, I won't bore you with the specifics of degradation, but when the critical stress factor is reached it lets go violently and without warning.

If this is Meripilus, give it some respect and do a proper root inspecton as David suggests with airspade

 

Jonny

[woody paul]

Righty O will let own know and go from there. Many thanks