Typical newbie

[johnmcc]

Yes, I've joined this forum because I have a problem. Sorry.

 

I'm in North Norfolk in an area that's on a pretty thick clay pan about 60 to 80 cms below the surface. I have a variety of trees in my garden and seem to be losing them. Two years ago a large weeping willow in a field behind my garden, separated from it by a ditch, died over the winter. Then last summer a weeping silver birch in my garden died at the end of July - all the leaves turned brown and fell, and before long twigs started to fall off the tree - all this within a few weeks. This June a tortured willow about 5 metres from the birch has started to die back from the top. Both the birch and the tortured willow were (are) about 6 metres tall. Now a 10 year old silver birch about 5 metres from the other two has started to look sickly, with leaves starting to curl and go brown at the edges, and some beginning to fall.

 

The three trees dead or dying in my garden are all in my chicken run. Could the chicken droppings be having an effect? In my village we are all on septic tanks. Could the sub-surface run off from the tanks be killing the trees? Or is it honey fungus or similar? All the trees are within a 6 or 7 metres of either the boundary ditch or a large pond connected to the ditch. The water table is less than 60 cm below the surface in the dryest weather - even during this spring's drought.

 

Also within my garden I have a large Oak, a very tall Ash, a Sweet Chestnut, Plum and Apple trees which so far (fingers crossed) don't seem to be affected. I don't think there is anything I can do to prevent any fungus or disease spreading since the root systems of my trees seem to be pretty well interconnected, but I'd like to know if the remaining trees are in danger, and what species might be safe if I have to replant.

 

If you have any thoughts you'd be prepared to share with me I'd be most grateful.

[David Goss]

Gerrit you really are "the man"

[Fungus]

it is the boletes that are the creme de la creme of symbionts and protectors of quercus? where I see the boletes I tend to see a happy healthy tree population?

 

To add a bit more. When oaks are accompagnied by Boletus (= Xerocomus) badius and/or Xerocomus chrysenteron s.l., along with Russula ochroleuca, R. parazurea and/or Paxillus involutus, and the tree specific specific symbionts are gone, it's a sign of the trees entering the final phase of their life cycle, which can not only be triggered by aging, but also by diminishing health because of nitrification and other forms of air and water pollution.

[easy-lift guy]

Sounds like your really keen on weeping any thing, with the same results. Could be the chicken droppings and moving the pen around once in a while and straw or mulch as a sponge is a good idea as well. If all else fails try a different type of tree. The willow by nature has poor structure and under the right weather conditions is prone to failure more often than not. Good hunting for that new tree.

easy-lift guy