The Meripilus thread!

[likeitorlumpit]

Just to join in with agreement.

Our recent meripilus beech seemed healthy and sound though completely surrounded with fruiting bodies. Once the crown had been removed we thought it best to fell rather than section as there was quite a bit of movement especially considering a very wide stem and a fair bit of buttressing. I get the feeling this would have maybe lasted some time or could have failed quickly. It's hard to know- is it worth the risk? (roadside and fairly exposed) As in not surrounded by trees

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

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

 

Thats a fair comment, always worth elucidating the details for others though, of particular importance in the understanding is that M. giganteus has Pectinase for breaking down pectin, the super adhesive in the middle lammela.

 

Just to join in with agreement.

Our recent meripilus beech seemed healthy and sound though completely surrounded with fruiting bodies. Once the crown had been removed we thought it best to fell rather than section as there was quite a bit of movement especially considering a very wide stem and a fair bit of buttressing. I get the feeling this would have maybe lasted some time or could have failed quickly. It's hard to know- is it worth the risk? (roadside and fairly exposed) As in not surrounded by trees

 

Yes, sympathize with the dilemma, not an easy one to make a call on, all too often its just a question of time although mostly reductions are sufficient and able to prolong life span and risk.

[woody paul]

Have had a talk to customer and explained how bad it is, we are going to reduce and thin out the tree so it can stay there a bit longer. And monitor it and if it needs to come down then take it down. Many thanks to all replys Paul.

[treeseer]

Thanks woody; good news!

 

"Have had a talk to customer and explained how bad it is,"

 

or at least as bad as it may be...

 

"we are going to reduce and thin out the tree"

 

thin living branches or dead? reduce 1-2m? 2-4m?

would that depend on loading and target and strength loss, based on butt/root assessments? No 1000 pound sterling airtool needed; this probe costs 20 for key info.

 

i hear %s are out of favor per the BS standard, so i wonder how the works would be specified in the UK...

[woody paul]

The beech tree I'am talking about is owned by 2 brothers how are like the chuckle brothers, so I will stear them in the right direction to what is best for the tree.

[Matthew Corran]

New research proves trees with Meripilus can read!

[Matthew Corran]

[Paul Barton]

Ha! Is that a setup?!

[Matthew Corran]

No! Tried to find out who owned the tree, fell down two weeks later!

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

No! Tried to find out who owned the tree, fell down two weeks later!

 

its a naughty fungus for sure, appears to be the darker lower profiled version yet again? the plot thickens