Meripilus on Oak...

[Giles Hill]

Wise words mate!

[Bundle 2]

Wise words mate!

 

Yeah...? I really think making a judgment on the pictorial evidence so far proffered is no more than educated guesswork.

Nothing so far offered as advice is more than generic, species associated postulated opinion.

Even saying.."Id never recommend on pic evidence" and then proceeding to do just that seems daft frankly..You know who you are...tut tut!

for christ sake mate...get someone in who knows what you dont...Rule 1 of arbclub: Know your limits!

 

Yours faithfully

 

grumpyol'git....lymeregis!

[gibbon]

I've seen meripilus on Turkey and Lucombe Oaks several times, not not on a robur. Never felled one because of it or had to clear a fallen one. We have lightly reduced a 35m Lucombe though which is on a very busy junction. That was 4 years ago and the crowns still in good nick

 

I also don't believe its possible to give advice based on your photo, without seeing the tree and possibly checking out some roots it would be guess work.

 

I would be interested to hear of any cases of Oaks failing because of the fungi.

[Giles Hill]

Rule 1 of arbclub: Know your limits!

 

Rule 2, don't post after you've been to the pub!

 

On the whole though, I think Hama's advice was good i.e.

 

Ideally get an 'expert'. If however the client is not prepared to pay for an expert you can either walk away (loose the client) or advise them as best you can.

 

If you decide on the latter, then you are relying on your own experience (which doesn't cover this situation) coupled with some well meaning but inconclusive words of wisdom from a few interested people looking at photos...

 

Under these circumstances, I think the second part of Hama's post was fair enough in that he was providing reassurance, that If the owner is not prepared to pay for an expert opinion and is looking to you for a decision, then felling would be justifiable and given the apparent circumstances perhaps the most sensible.

Edited October 7, 2010 by Giles Hill

[Bundle 2]

Yes I was drunk..but I still spelt okay and didnt say too much crazy stuff ..more shooting the breeze. Im sorry if you took offence. A bit eloquacious Id admit, but wheres the offence in that when you look around the site at some of the subject matter and derails that entertain folk in a sober frame of mind already! I was mostly agreeing with you . (U cant win!)

Actually....My point is that it may be quite possible to get further advice without incurring onerous, consultant fees but this would require a site visit. This is what Hama offered and good for him!

i certainly think felling due to not wishing to lose out on a cash cow is very poor advice...sorry!

(Posted from the Kings Arms on my blackberry!)

[Giles Hill]

Rule 3: Be careful when you're trying to be funny.

 

The pub comment was about me. I had a pint after playing football last night, came in all full of drunken camaraderie and posted 'wise words mate' before passing out in a pool of vomit.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

I've seen meripilus on Turkey and Lucombe Oaks several times, not not on a robur. Never felled one because of it or had to clear a fallen one. We have lightly reduced a 35m Lucombe though which is on a very busy junction. That was 4 years ago and the crowns still in good nick

 

I also don't believe its possible to give advice based on your photo, without seeing the tree and possibly checking out some roots it would be guess work.

 

I would be interested to hear of any cases of Oaks failing because of the fungi.

 

Shame you didnt see the cerris on the foray!

 

Been trawling the files trying to find my downed robur with meripilus all over the root plate, doesnt prove anything anyway.

 

and for all the others

 

No matter what ANYONE says iether here or elswhere, VERY little is known regarding the effects of meripilus on oak, so what i suggested, was wise words, and i will stand in court to declare so, maybe if paul is listening in he may enlighten us to "current AA status" of this scenario?

 

I wasnt offering a definitive answer on the basis of a photo, merely offering an opinion and advice, which was requested, i offered to go see it, and give a much more realistic oportunity for further evaluation, it was turned down, and thats cool.

 

I do sincerely hope that if you feel i have done anything even remotely unprofesional or un ethical or said something i shouldnt that you will justify the comments so that i can clarify my position:sneaky2:

 

and if anyone wants to see a cerris that is about to iether die or fall over and has gone form sound looking to highly threatening in 12 months of fruiting meripilus come to cassiobury park. This tree went from healthy with a little wound and a merip fruit body, in 12 months to open compression root decay pockets and a goosed crown:thumbdown:

 

I dont talk turkey, and i dont bluff, and one of the last people to fell a tree without conviction.

 

and i wonder, if we applied to fell a TPO tree with meripilus and obvious decline, do you think it would be refused?

[monkeypuzzle22]

It does have to be said...I don't, personally, think you have said anything you shouldn't have hama. I am very much with you and Arbculture on this one. If you feel that the client will reject the advice you and other professionals on here have shared, namely carry out further tests, seek further consultation/advice or remove the tree, then it would be irresponsible of you not to at least demonstrate to the client the reasons behind your rec's, after all they are employing you as an Arb specialist to make a professional judgement.

 

If the tree has no considerable targets and the targets which may be present are appropriately managed, then maybe you could justify retaining the tree as a habitat feature.

[gibbon]

I don't think you've been un-proffesional and did not mean to imply that. Personally I would prefer to be more reserved with my opinion if I had not seen the tree and the site in the flesh. A single photograph does not always tell us the whole story.

 

Opinions will differ and it doesn't mean that one person is wrong or another is wrong

 

If it was my client in a situation like this I would chat about what they wanted. If they want to fell the tree then it would be easy enough to justify that decision based on what we have already seen and I'd give them a price to fell it. If they would like to keep it or want a little more information to make their minds up, I would do a bit more investigating and charge accordingly.

 

I don't think your wrong in your approach here just different. I do think that you sometimes seem to be quick to make a diffinative statement about a tree in situations where I'd be keen to explore a little more.

[gibbon]

and i wonder, if we applied to fell a TPO tree with meripilus and obvious decline, do you think it would be refused?

 

I very much doubt that it would. Its a lot harder to justify keeping a tree with any kind of root decay fungi than it is too justify retention.