London Plane

[Treefitter]

Recently I have been noticing how the newer London planes appear to be falling apart. How come? When I say newer I'm suggesting up to approx 30-40 years old. The more mature trees planted 60-70 years ago do not appear to have taken such a beating Has anyone got any thoughts? Layman's language please no degrees round hear!!!

[David Humphries]

Older Trees 50 yrs + probably had a far better growing/establishment environment.

Less compaction, less trenching.

 

Which may lead to the younger generation unable to dynamically develop and end up spending all their energy photosynthesising just to survive at the expence of decay/damage repair.

.

[skyhuck]

Squirrel damage?

[Treefitter]

Big squirrels?

[skyhuck]

Big squirrels?

 

I'm talking bark stripping, that causes decease and decay!

[Treefitter]

Perhaps I should elaborate! I'm referring to the way in which they a splitting apart through weak unions. It seems as if the smaller,younger, trees are more prone. Is it something to do with their DNA or provenance?

[Mesterh]

Poor cheap specimens maybe?

[Amelanchier]

Perhaps I should elaborate! I'm referring to the way in which they a splitting apart through weak unions. It seems as if the smaller,younger, trees are more prone. Is it something to do with their DNA or provenance?

 

Not far off...

 

Current thinking is that certain clones of Platanus x hispanica have a genetic propensity to forming weak unions. See attached FC Pathology Note 7.

Problems _of_Plane_Trees_Pathology_Note_07.pdf

[danbrown87]

I remember somebody telling me that the ones planted in York centre are genetically predisposed to "falling apart". They've all been dastically reduced now and look horrible.

[Treefitter]

Thank you Tony Sorensen that was a great help. That's what this forum is all about.

Edited December 6, 2008 by Treefitter
Missed a name!