Horse Chestnut problems..

[john87]

Hi All,

 

Here are some pics of a horse chestnut tree where my other half lives. It seems to have a few problems.. Looking at the leaves, is that the "leaf mining moth" at work??

 

There are lots of "rusty" looking bits too. Is that the "bleeding canker"

 

What is the prognosis for this tree. Reason for asking, is that it overhangs the car park adn foot paths too, so if it drops branches at the least cars will be crushed and at the worst people killed..

 

What you all think??

 

john..

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

A combination of HC leaf-miner (Camereria) affecting the leaves, and probably HC leaf-blotch *Guignardia) and, as you say bleeding-canker (Pseudomonas) whihc gives the rusty brown appearance as it dries.

Prognosis is generally not good and dependent upon tree tree's vitality they can succumb to Honey Fungus (Armellaria) as a secondary infection problem (very common.) There has been drought stress too so that will contribute.

However I'm not aware it increases propensity to limb failure particularly, or indeed tree failure (although HF can contribute to this if present.)   

They look at their worst at their at this time of year and hence I wouldn't rush to a decision about removal.

[Dan Maynard]

On the bright side leaf cover looks ok, as Paul said I'd see how it is next year.

[john87]

30 minutes ago, Dan Maynard said:

On the bright side leaf cover looks ok, as Paul said I'd see how it is next year.

Yes, and loads of conkers too.. I do not know much about trees and was worried if the canker thing would cause large bits to drop off. There are a few conker trees in work with some sort of rot, vertical branches over a foot in diameter will snap off perhaps 30 feet in the air. Other branches will look ok..

 

john..