Taking these out next week.

[MATTMOSS]

I am working in a local park next week removing some horse chestnuts that have Phytophthora. I think the strain has been identified as P. criticola? (not ramorum anyway) the trees have had the dark staining (bark bleeding) for a few years and they have suprised me that they have lasted this long. They seem to be on there last legs(or roots) and then summer comes and they come into leaf and look like they may recover, but then usually loose there leaf early and look dead again.

So we have managed to get some money to buy in some replacements (Heavy standards- Oaks) and I am going to put them out of their misery and take them out.

However the reason for posting the pics is that there are the Aesculus hippocastanum which are the worst affected, -(loosing limbs, bark falling off, leaf loss. And the Aesculus x carnea which does get the black bark staining but doesnt seem half as bad as the others? obviously more resilient. So I am going to lightly prune a couple of them and see how they go on.

I have pictured one of the red chestnuts, but its one that i'm not sure about? it is the one with the bulging stem - possibly a sign of internal decay? not made my mind up with that one yet? and the other with the big cavity is a Beech, it does seem solid enough but it is over a path and i have decided while there is funds for replacements it would be best to remove it or have a go at carving it into something?

any thoughts always welcome.

matt