Last Beech Standing

[David Humphries]

Following is a series of Photos showing the management of a Beech hosting Meripilus.

 

Ftr, I'm not looking for points for the reduction.

 

Situation demanded crown size to be reduced.

The unknown, naivity, various reports, gut instinct and respect for the history of this landscape, combined to inform my management of this particular Tree in this particular location.

 

Site is a very quite formal garden, tree is the last one of four Mature Beech sited on the brow of a hill.

 

Merip in evidence on up slope area of root butresses, for at least 8-10 years.

Benches below slope moved to new location October 2004.

Reduction (topping if you want to be cynical) November 2004.

Picus Tomograph March 2006.

Air Spade investigation November 2008.

 

 

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Edited November 19, 2008 by Monkey-D

[David Humphries]

1st Meripilus on up slope butresses October 2003

 

2nd & 3rd October 2006

 

4th November 2008

 

although not seen myself, there is a record of fruiting bodies this year which were much smaller in size than previous years

 

5th Picus Tomograph March 2006

 

Not suprisingly, the picus did not pick up anything of great concern.

 

 

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Edited November 19, 2008 by Monkey-D

[David Humphries]

Root investigation using Air Spade by Arbor Aeration.

[David Humphries]

As you can see from pictures 12 & 13 from post 3, there is significant decay present on one of the main butress roots and a couple of smaller roots lower down in the soil profile, which the former I see as a result of mower damage which appears on top of the root as a callous wound.

 

One of the most intersting points to view during this, was the evidence of how much grafting is going on.

 

In conclusion, I feel confident having now seen the level of degredation and sound adaptive butress root growth,

coupling this with the major reduction which in hindsight should have been far smaller.

 

Canopy 4 years after the fact, is amazingly vital bearing in mind the species and size of pruning.

 

 

At this time, the tree with annual monitoring, is to remain.

 

 

 

 

Over to you guys for your..................observations

 

 

 

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Edited November 19, 2008 by Monkey-D

[Big dog]

Fell it.

[David Humphries]

Fell it.

 

 

 

 

Care to expand Monsieur Gros Chien ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Edited November 19, 2008 by Monkey-D

[Peter]

Bearing in mind the fungus in question, would you now do a root investigation ahead of a picus?

 

From what you found on that tree, I would certainly like to do the root investigation before the reduction.....

[David Humphries]

Bearing in mind the fungus in question, would you now do a root investigation ahead of a picus?

 

From what you found on that tree, I would certainly like to do the root investigation before the reduction.....

 

 

 

Quite so Peter.

 

Hindsight is a marvelous thing, foresight is yet greater !

 

Agreed, Picus was proscribed here unnecesarily imo, with regards

Meripilus ingretion.

 

 

Next time, definitely the root investigation first, then possibly followed by light crown thin & reduction.

 

 

You wouldn't believe the ammount of grateful people that comment on the retention of this "undignified Tree"

 

Most don't even note the heavy loss whilst in leaf.

 

 

 

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[Albedo]

Interesting and educational as always M'D

 

The tomograph set up looks like your'e about to take it out with semtex.

[Peter]

Does a light thin and reduction actually achieve anything in terms of reducing sail?