A mature Plane with pests and diseases...

[Eagle]

I know I'm opening a can of worms here, since these Planes are mature (over 2m in diameter at the base)...

 

The Planes are heavily affected by the Sycamore leaf miner (Lithocolletis platani), Sycamore Anthracnose caused by Apiognomonia veneta and Massaria Platani.

 

I don't think any of these pests or diseases are going to kill the trees. The first two cause many of the leaves to drop off early and Massaria causes branch dieback. The trees are in a park in Austria. I would recommend removing the infected leaves and branch ends during the dormant season to also remove the leaf miner and anthracnose with them. The Massaria can be monitored and further branches removed as and when. On mature trees this gets close to pollarding and hense the can of worms.... Felling mature trees for a pest and disease that won't ultimately kill the tree is certainly not ideal.

 

I am interested to hear what you would suggest?

[RobArb]

as long as there is no serious risk of health and safety you seem to pretty know what you want to do anyway:thumbup:

[sean]

I know I'm opening a can of worms here, since these Planes are mature (over 2m in diameter at the base)...

 

The Planes are heavily affected by the Sycamore leaf miner (Lithocolletis platani), Sycamore Anthracnose caused by Apiognomonia veneta and Massaria Platani.

 

I don't think any of these pests or diseases are going to kill the trees. The first two cause many of the leaves to drop off early and Massaria causes branch dieback. The trees are in a park in Austria. I would recommend removing the infected leaves and branch ends during the dormant season to also remove the leaf miner and anthracnose with them. The Massaria can be monitored and further branches removed as and when. On mature trees this gets close to pollarding and hense the can of worms.... Felling mature trees for a pest and disease that won't ultimately kill the tree is certainly not ideal.

 

I am interested to hear what you would suggest?

 

I have been 'deadwooding' alot of tres in London with Masaria in the last couple of weeks. What we are finding is that yes there is dieback at the end of branches but once we climb into the canopy the picture changes somewhat. What look to be healthy limbs from the ground have complete cambium necrosis on the top side with the beginnings of fracturing. We are also finding far more deadwood in the canopy than can be seen from the ground. We have had limb failures also.

 

See also the following thread.

 

http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/fungi-pictures/18177-splanchnonema-platani.html

[Eagle]

I have been 'deadwooding' alot of tres in London with Masaria in the last couple of weeks. What we are finding is that yes there is dieback at the end of branches but once we climb into the canopy the picture changes somewhat. What look to be healthy limbs from the ground have complete cambium necrosis on the top side with the beginnings of fracturing. We are also finding far more deadwood in the canopy than can be seen from the ground. We have had limb failures also.

 

These five planes were deadwooded a few months ago from a MEWP and there was a large pile of branches to reflect that. I'll be going back out to Austria with a BigShot in the bag to have a closer look from higher up! Binoculars just don't work so well!