Meripilus Giganteus

[Arob]

http://www.arbtalk.co.uk/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6074&stc=1&d=1219525403

This led to the end for this 80 or so year old Beech which had been gradually been dying back over a decade or so, when all of a sudden two massive fruiting bodies popped out.

 

Two years on the stump, which was left, is almost totally covered by multiple fruiting bodies.

[David oakman]

Burn it:blushing:

[Arob]

Seriously?

Likely to be grinding the stump out some time over the next few months, I say grinding, not sure what resistance there'll be.

We had a couple of guys out to check this out and quote for the work (before I started up at college) neither mentioned getting rid of the fungus, thankfully there aren't any other Beech trees around (I believe they're the most susceptible) though there are a few large mature Sycamores and Ash trees.

[Marc]

Seriously?

Likely to be grinding the stump out some time over the next few months, I say grinding, not sure what resistance there'll be.

We had a couple of guys out to check this out and quote for the work (before I started up at college) neither mentioned getting rid of the fungus, thankfully there aren't any other Beech trees around (I believe they're the most susceptible) though there are a few large mature Sycamores and Ash trees.

 

I work in the Chilterns which is chock full of Beech, i occasionally see the odd tree succumb to merrilipilus in the woods, yet it rarely transmits to the healthy trees close by.

A lot of these fungi are always present especially Armilliaria in the enviroment, they only take hold in the right circumstances.

 

Grinding will not help stop the spread, if anything i'd think it would spread it more.

 

A neat little trick is to cut a limb off a healthy tree and place it in a polythene bag in a warm place, you'll be surprised at the fungi that can start to grow.

[Arob]

Thanks Marc.

 

(Didn't express myself very clearly, I meant if it does need to be dealt with maybe better to do so before grinding.)

 

One of the guys who came to quote said he wouldn't let us keep any of the chip as it may pose a risk of spreading the fungus, I was surprised but thought he must have a very specific disposal option, he said he would take to the council site. Seemed to me that it would then be sold as chip; very unlikely to be composted?!

I didn't argue about it

[MattyF]

beaches ive seen with merripilus have 90% been infected due to root damage .....utility works usually being the main cause

[Marc]

Thanks Marc.

 

(Didn't express myself very clearly, I meant if it does need to be dealt with maybe better to do so before grinding.)

 

One of the guys who came to quote said he wouldn't let us keep any of the chip as it may pose a risk of spreading the fungus, I was surprised but thought he must have a very specific disposal option, he said he would take to the council site. Seemed to me that it would then be sold as chip; very unlikely to be composted?!

I didn't argue about it

 

 

All the chip where i work is recycled for mulch even from dieseaed trees, we then sell or use the mulch in tree planting schemes or for mulching mature trees.

It does not seem to spread any fungus as the mulch is applied as a top dressing it rarely transmits to the roots.

 

What i said about grinding spreading it more i don't really believe only that it certainly will not help to get rid of it even if you did remove the grindings, fungi is ever present you can not steralise the enviroment.

 

Even the fungi we class as health and safety risks to trees are an important part of the enviroment, they bring down the old and weak trees and help to break them down, its natures way you can't fight nature.

[David oakman]

Burn it, i was jesting:001_smile: we have all fungi in the parkland and all stumps are left for conservation purposes. the only stump i did remove was an oak stump in the avenue with honey fungus i removed the stump and dug a 3 meter square hole and filled with top soil but it still poped up in the autumn:001_smile: around the hole oh dear.

[Arob]

Thanks David, was a bit unsure if you were joking.

I hope you didn't have to dig that hole by hand!

[David oakman]

No JCB i phoned the FC and they told me to dig as much as i could as i was planting anouther tree which has taken well but the tree next to it has just died about 12 years old:001_smile: