Lombardy Poplar concern

[Pete Tattam]

I have been asked to look at a line of Lombardy Poplars which are showing signs of die back. These trees are about 15 years old according to the client and are fairly close planted. The die back/damage is only evident where there is a neighbouring tree i.e the two outside trees are fine on both outside edges but damaged on the inside. All the trees inside the line are damaged on both sides. My opinion is that they are too close together so that when we have strong winds the outer edges clash and cause the problem. Does anyone have other ideas? Is the only remedy removal and replanting further apart? Thanks guys.

[Fungus]

I have been asked to look at a line of Lombardy Poplars which are showing signs of die back. These trees are about 15 years old according to the client and are fairly close planted. The die back/damage is only evident where there is a neighbouring tree i.e the two outside trees are fine on both outside edges but damaged on the inside. All the trees inside the line are damaged on both sides. My opinion is that they are too close together so that when we have strong winds the outer edges clash and cause the problem. Does anyone have other ideas?

 

Pete,

Did you check the soil and trunk's bases for Armillaria rhizomorphsspreading through root-root contact and/or were black oozing spots present on the trunks ?

[Andy Collins]

Always handy if you can submit some pics for our perusal, makes the site look pretty and helps those of us who cant read:thumbup1:

[Pete Tattam]

No oozing spots, everything looks fine and dandy other than that already mentioned. Submitting photos is a problem for a technophobe who doesn't own a mobile with a camera (shock horror!) or any other type of camera. I really must drag myself into the 20th century........sorry I've just been informed its the 21st century now! Just using this new fangled type of magic lantern is a minor triumph.

 

Thanks for advice so far

[woodworm]

Hi, I am not a qualified tree surgeon or anything like that, but we regularly do some felling work on a 400 acre poplar plantation and they insist that the trees always have plenty of air space around them. As soon as they start to touch, we take every other tree out. Don't know if this helps:confused1:

[Mesterh]

How closely are they planted?

 

Just sounds like they are being shaded out and dying off.

 

Lombardies do get loads of dead wood twigs and decent sized bits of deadwood when they are solitary trees.

 

I know what my recommendation would be.

[Pete Tattam]

Close enough that the branches are almost touching in still conditions and rattling each other in the high winds we often experience on the coast. I'd happily take the lot down but the client wants to keep them if possible......"they remind me of my childhood in France"...blah blah!

[Ty Korrigan]

Hello,

We have just felled a dozen pops, not lombardy though and although they where only 20 odd years old, most had a large hollow filled with wet black shoite.

The crowns looked good and healthy and there where no fruiting bodies nor mycorhiza nor wounds nothing to indicate ill health.

My question is therefore, what is it?

Regards Ty

[Mesterh]

Hello,

We have just felled a dozen pops, not lombardy though and although they where only 20 odd years old, most had a large hollow filled with wet black shoite.

The crowns looked good and healthy and there where no fruiting bodies nor mycorhiza nor wounds nothing to indicate ill health.

My question is therefore, what is it?

Regards Ty

 

The answer is, its a shite tree.

 

It's not very often I take a Lombardy down that isn't rotting in the middle. An before anyone says something silly they don't all come down because of noticeable rot.

[Ty Korrigan]

7,286 posts...

You got an ugly wife or even time to climb trees?

How do you do it?

Ty