Mulching trees with root diseases

[Steve Bullman]

thanks chris, is that your main area of work?

[Lee Winger]

My fert rig would inject some life back into the tree,if she wanted to go whole hog we could verticle mulch the tree with our air-spade or simply decompact with our ''air reviter'' [compressed air decompactor] pm me if your interested Steve, or need some advice..

 

From my experience most people aren't so keen on great swaithes of mulch in the garden, and imo mulching now might take to much time to produce results, it sounds like to me your tree is already on borrowed time...

 

Off topic guys a tad, but one word of warning guys, I was talking to a friend of mine the other day, he also carries out air-spade work, we both came to the conclusion that this tool possibly isn't the best tool for relieving compacted soil, the potential for the tree to blow over are too great in our opinion, i've seen air-spades used to decompact soil within the whole of the root zone, thats a lot of very relieved roots imo, now verticle mulching carried out properly is a different ball game..

[Andy Collins]

 

Off topic guys a tad, but one word of warning guys, I was talking to a friend of mine the other day, he also carries out air-spade work, we both came to the conclusion that this tool possibly isn't the best tool for relieving compacted soil, the potential for the tree to blow over are too great in our opinion, i've seen air-spades used to decompact soil within the whole of the root zone, thats a lot of very relieved roots imo, now verticle mulching carried out properly is a different ball game..

 

As I dont get involved in this area, Lee, can you explain this in a little more depth, maybe in a separate thread. Surely decompaction in only done in the surface area for the feeding roots, to maybe 10-12inches? Not the main supporting and structural roots? Or am I misunderstanding what you are saying??

[nuttyarb]

I'm not a Picus operator but a root level cross section might not show any defects, as all the decay may be on the underside of the structural roots.

 

Speaking of picus testing, I have another beech utterly mishapen, loads of adaptive growth, looks like a bundle planting or similar. Problem is, at some time or another someone has filled a large (150m by 70cm) cavity with concrete. And meshed it so the tree has enveloped the mesh. If I get the job, does anyone know whether a Picus could tell me anything about the cavity or would the concrete give misreadings?

 

Hi Tony,

 

I have quite alot of experience with the Tomagraph. It basically works on sound waves, so hollows respond differently to solid wood. The Tomagraph is a tool, it is not a answer. Whats important is how you interpret the results. It should, however, show the differences between sound wood and the concrete or any hollows as they all have different densities.

Good luck

[nuttyarb]

Meripulus is dangerous to make a decision on because the tree can show no signs of decline in the crown. This is because often the tree will send out adventitious roots from near to the stem. It still has its water and nutrient gathering ability, but little anchorage. This is why Meripulus may not be fatal directly- it is the wind that causes the problems at the advance stage of root decay.

If there are no targets, then no problem.

[Frimsley]

Bit OT, but folk over on the UKTC seem to like your fungi pics Mr Nutty:

 

http://www.tree-care.info/uktc/archive/2007/msg04725

[Amelanchier]

Nuttyarb,

 

Cheers for the reply. I've specified many tomographs but was just wondering whether the concrete was a problem. I understand its all in the interpretation, my concern was related to the possibility of such a large proportion of concrete adversley affecting the results to such a point that they become unreliable to interpret.

I'm worried about justifying what is an unfortunately costly operation that may not yield usable data.

 

As for the Merip. always a tough call.

[nuttyarb]

Bit OT, but folk over on the UKTC seem to like your fungi pics Mr Nutty:

 

http://www.tree-care.info/uktc/archive/2007/msg04725

 

Thanks for the pointer Frimsley. Never heard of that site- will have to have a look.

[nuttyarb]

Nuttyarb,

 

Cheers for the reply. I've specified many tomographs but was just wondering whether the concrete was a problem. I understand its all in the interpretation, my concern was related to the possibility of such a large proportion of concrete adversley affecting the results to such a point that they become unreliable to interpret.

I'm worried about justifying what is an unfortunately costly operation that may not yield usable data.

 

As for the Merip. always a tough call.

 

Sorry Tony, its just that so many people seem to make a felling decision on a tomagraph alone!

 

I always back up a reading with a core sample- admittedly damaging but can provide very useful data. The nylon hammer method is good too.

 

If you do commission a tomagraph, any chance of posting the results on the forum?

[Lee Winger]

I'll bet compacted soils play a major part in the trees early decline..