An afternoon of tree surveying.

[Matthew Arnold]

Whilst at work, i was doing a basic tree survey looking at the base, crown and limbs of the bigger trees we have on our biggest site. I found a few fungi. 2 i can identify, one i cannot. The one i cannot identify is growing from the very base of a mature Sycamore out of the buttress roots. One of the buttresses is very soft and easy to indent and break pieces off. There is quite alot of die back in the very top and the leaves have been small and yellow most of the year. Any ideas? I have attached a big group of pictures with my findings during the afternoon.

 

Pic 1- Sycamore with Die back

Pic 2- Strange fungi growing on Sycamore with die back

Pic 3- Strange looking damage on Ash with possible Honey fungus at base.

Pic 4- Ganoderma appalanum growing from large root butress of twin stemmed Ash

Pic 5- Dryad's Saddle growing from Twin stemmed Ash

Pic 6- Same tree only further away showing height

Pic 7- Showing proximity to footpath.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

The ash has bacterial canker, i think its called psuedosyringea fraxinea, as for the sycamore, its xylaria polymorpha and is indicative of the die back of roots, common on declining sycamores

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

The correct name for the ash canker is psuedomonas syringae. savastonoi pv. fraxini

 

reference from "tree diseases and disorders" hienz butin

[Matthew Arnold]

Cheers. the sycamore with die back was very spongy around where the fungi is. There was also a few more small fruting bodies on a very rotten butress. Last year it was fine but this year something has gotten into the rootplate.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

the xylariaceous fungi appear to be mutualistic invaders IME, in other words they let other fungi with stronger parasitic cpabilities to get in first then quickly take advantage of dysfunctional woody tissues.

 

It is clear both your ash and sycamore are suffering late stage dysfunctions and attacks at an earlier age than usual, no doubt the historic disturbances to lay the path etc have all added to the aging proscess of these trees, both of which fair poorly against root disturbances.

 

I wouldnt nesscesarily condem them iether, but would look to significantly reduce them, lower the leverages and the risks will be all but removed for a long time to come.

 

even if it means a pollard, as these trees are contributing hugley to the local eco system.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

we also have to remember that a tree can suffer the death of a root or roots and re iterate a new root/s to compensate providing the tree is vital and the loss of the root is due to damge or injury rather than via the aging proscess and progressive decay agents.

 

though not so evident in sycamores ash, oak and beech certainly have the capacity to re iterate and "go again" following a majory life incident,

[Matthew Arnold]

ok. i shall relay that back to my supierior. He can climb them and just reduce them and take out the larger lumps of deadwood.

[arb culture]

And if someone is then squashed by one of the trees, who do they sue - you, your boss, the landowner, Hama (acting as your consultant)?

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

30% from the ends only leaving ALL interior growth would suffice for a few years i reckon, but bare in mind im looking at photos here!

 

I would do a report and cover them with pro indeminty if theres an interest to take it further?

[arb culture]

I would do a report and cover them with pro indeminty if theres an interest to take it further?

 

That's better