Tree assessment/forest pathology

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

I thought this subject deserved its own thread, many people ask me how i know whats going on sometimes, what clues do I look for. So I thought I would make a thread that describes some of the cases I come across im my working life so that others can get a feel for what to look for and what clues indicate certain diagnosis. This may or may not be useful, feel free to contribute, ask questions, or even contradict me if you think you have a better idea than me, as I am always willing to listen and even open to being corrected:biggrin: I have always learned more when Ive been corrected on my own assumptions than when interaction with others is absent.

 

This tree from today had nothing to do with our job, I know, I know but when your asked to do one job and have not been asked to do a tree survey of the site what can we do. I just cant help myself, its in my blood, I see a stressed tree and I HAVE to go see, to find out what I can and learn from each unique situation that I come across. So I turn up on the job, boss is missing so looo

ks round the back and what do I see but BODY LANGUAGE! Now my day just got interesting! so as you can see there is some life belt formation low on the stem, a second forming above it, because the life belt below has been optimised and now the stress has been displaced further up the stem.

 

Also notice the new bark and sections of bark coming off, the thin crown, the moss dominated acidic ground the tree is stood in, the mower damage. Now lets start over now the tree has got our attention.

 

This is where the tree asesment should begin, from way back, looking at it in the landscape perspective, so the first image, from way back, what does the landscape perspective tell us?

 

 

 

 

 

[slack ma girdle]

 

This is where the tree asesment should begin, from way back, looking at it in the landscape perspective, so the first image, from way back, what does the landscape perspective tell us?

 

 

From a distance the tree does not look happy. At this time of year the growth is still young and it sould look vivid green and have a dense conopy.

 

P.S. no big words ?

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

From a distance the tree does not look happy. At this time of year the growth is still young and it sould look vivid green and have a dense conopy.

 

P.S. no big words ?

 

from the landscape perspective, this is what im saying, look deeper:thumbup1:

 

Edited June 28, 2011 by Tony Croft aka hamadryad

[Sam Thompson]

I can see this being you best thread yet. Very interesting

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

O.k so were all aware of the scene, lets start to get a closer look and start to evaluate the details.

 

Note as i said, root damage thinning crown, new bark loose bark, and the life belt and buckling.

 

Also note the ground, poor soil, acidifying moss (a suppressant)

 

and keep in mind the landscape perspective.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[PhilBeech]

Compaction, mechanical damage, looks to have been heavily reduced in the past, either because of the decline or has increased the decline. Fungal pathogens at play as well...

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Compaction, mechanical damage, looks to have been heavily reduced in the past, either because of the decline or has increased the decline. Fungal pathogens at play as well...

 

Compaction is a possible, but unlikely in this position, even considering the development of the house, bare in mind that behind is a woodland, and the trees that are dying in this line/band of trees are now standing as edge trees in a landscaped garden, albeit a semi woodland scene.

 

good spot on the previous and quite severe reduction, as for fungi, which one do you think in this scene?

[PhilBeech]

I think you could be wrong on compaction, it will have been an issue at some point, looks like the lawn has been mown to within an inch of it's life in the past hence the high moss levels and well manicured garden.

[PhilBeech]

Fistulina?

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

I think you could be wrong on compaction, it will have been an issue at some point, looks like the lawn has been mown to within an inch of it's life in the past hence the high moss levels and well manicured garden.

 

I can assure you, any compaction here has only been the householders activities, it isnt a NT property, and trees can handle compaction on these levels. So lets add a little LIGHT compaction to the equation, it doesnt alter the outcome or is even a consideration for me in THIS scenario.