Kretz and lime

[CTTree]

Afternoon all 

 

I was wondering if anyone has monitored lime with kretz (I’d also be interested in other trees) and not taken remedial action, but then gone on to observe the tree to failure (or not). I’d be interested in the timescales involved, extent of decay, suspected or measured, form of the tree, type of location, the event that caused failure, all the nitty gritty. 
 

In lower risk areas have people any successful experience of progressive works, ie not just felling or reducing down to wildlife habitat? 
 

I have just surveyed a lime of 127cm dbh and 4m circumference. It has a small cavity in between buttresses that indicates 1m of decay within. The hammer indicated some obvious decay in one of the buttresses (near the kretz). The fruiting bodies are located on the tensionwood side and extend for approximately 1m up the stem.
 

The tree is multi stemmed and has a heavy stem on the opposing side from the kretz. The stem overhangs gravestones and a minor path in a large cemetery. 

 

I would imagine the path is used no more than a couple of times a day and potentially occasionally by grounds maintenance staff for strimming etc. The cemetery is open about 12hrs a day in summer and 8hrs a day in winter. So occupancy levels are very low. 
 

The tree is of good vigour, not showing much epicormic growth and benefits from companion shelter. 
 

My current thoughts are that decay is obviously extensive and action should be taken to prevent damage to the gravestones, even if injury to a person is minimal. 
 

The tree is of some age/ size, particularly for an urban tree and I am keen to balance the duty of care with any possible preservation of the tree. I am sure someone is going suggest more detailed decay detection equipment. If you think that is the right course of action then I open to hearing it, but if you could entertain some potential theoretical as well that would be appreciated.
 

I am trying to build my experience of kretz by looking at failed trees, the stumps of condemned trees and colonised standing trees, although am conscious about falling into assumptions based on limited early career experience. 
 

Thank you 

 

Christian 

 

[judastreefairy]

Catastrophic failure 

[CTTree]

Simple as that 😂 

[Pete Mctree]

It’s not going to improve - why not reduce to habitat ?

also consider the logistics of working on the tree when it becomes even more disfunctional and decayed 

[kram]

I was asked to chop up a lime stump, around 36" DBH.

It fell in December. The roots were powder and significantly sized logs weighed nothing. The owners were unaware of its ill health until it fell in a storm.

 

 

 

Quote

There is no designated treatment for K. deusta once it has infected its host. Once established, the infection is terminal for the tree. It can result in sudden breakage in otherwise apparently healthy trees, with visually healthy crowns. This can result in hazardous trees in public settings near roadways, trails, or buildings. Therefore, the recommended treatment would be to fell trees in areas that may be hazardous and to avoid using the infected plant material as mulch.

 

 

My opinion is to remove.

[CTTree]

Pete, what you’ve said is my current outlook. I just wanted to sound people out on whether there were ever alternatives. Not only in reference to this tree, but other trees with kretz at significantly earlier stages of decay. 

Edited yesterday at 06:59 by CTTree

[CTTree]

12 hours ago, kram said:

I was asked to chop up a lime stump, around 36" DBH.

It fell in December. The roots were powder and significantly sized logs weighed nothing. The owners were unaware of its ill health until it fell in a storm.

 

 

 

 

 

My opinion is to remove.

Thank you.