Kretz and lime

[daltontrees]

In my experience once Kd is well-established and visible there is very limited scope for only 'monitoring' it. It can but doesn't always progress rapidly, but full aeration takes it from a selective rot mode to full-on loss of strength. So, usually some sort of intervention is recommended. The life of the tree can be increased by crown reduction to avoid basal failure, but as with all reduction you're removing part of the tree's energy source to fight off further decay, accelerating the overall demise. A lean makes management decisions even more difficult, as leaners can in theory fail under the self-weight tension at the base. In practice failure will usually be triggered by a wind event. And there's always the issue that as things get worse the tree gets less climbable and more expensive to remove.

'Monitor' is such a useless recommendation for any risk survey. A specific season and year for reinspection should be specified, and take it from there. As precise a record of current condition and extent of decay and fuiiting is essential for future comparison.

Risk is only partly about the tree. Target is as important, either by reference to defensible thresholds set by H&SE or in discussion with the landowner.

Rarely I have seen trees with Kd in positions where intervention was not merited. I've spotted Kd on a few and recommended reisnpection after an appropriate period. I've also come a cross a few failures lying on the ground. But I don't have a body of records on what happens from discovery right through to failure.