Apple Tree Infection Advice

[Garrog]

Hi all,

 

I would be really grateful if anyone would be willing to advise what to do with a mature apple tree in our garden. The main concern is a very recent bracket growth although on inspection there are also some other points of concern!

 

To give some background, we believe our garden was once part of an orchard, so the mature apple, plum and pear would be at least 70 years old. Since we moved in in 2005, the apple has fruited well but this year it is fruiting little. About 4 years ago it had a heavy prune mainly at the top - one of the pictures shows where a large limb was hacked off (not by me!), and also some fairly extensive ivy was removed - during this a few bark cuts were sustained (again, not me!).

 

Last year we noticed sawdust on a shrub below a limb which was sawed off and facing down. Finding holes about 3/8", from research I believe it is most likely a carpenter bee which I understand is harmless to the tree and beneficial to pollenation. Although I have never witnessed bees, the end continues to produce sawdust.

 

A few days ago I noticed the bracket, which continues to expand impressively. I'm 99% certain the mushroom is a 'hairy bracket', or fruiting body of Inonotus Hispidus; having done some research I understand that while the fungus attacks only the old heart wood this is terminal and - when in the trunk as here - eventually leads to a tree which cannot support itself due to hollowing out.

 

Finally, when taking the pictures I also noticed what appears to be a mature butt rot at the base and woodworm in one of the limbs. Most leaves look normal with just a few looking grey-brown toward the end (not pictured).

 

I attach some pictures of the bracket, the tree situation and nearest other apple tree, and shots of various points on the infected tree which I hope will be useful in assessing it. If you don't mind, these are the questions for which I think I'm seeking answers. Of course, please correct me if any of the above is wrong or I'm asking the wrong questions!

 

1. Given that the bracket is a spore machine, would I be better to pull it off so that a) it won't drip spores into the ground and back in, b) it won't blow over to other trees, and c) the mycelium won't be so encouraged to develop in the trunk to support the fruit; or would the scar potentially cause more distress/secondary infection?

2. Could it in future produce fruit at previous quantities, or is the yield certain to be in terminal decline?

3. If we were to keep the tree, how viable is propping and how urgent is the need?

4. Should we remove the woodworm-infested branch?

 

Pictures

1. Close-up of the monster
2. General Situation
3. Trunk
4. Trunk scar
5. Limb scar
6. Hacked Limb
7. Bee work?
8. Butt rot?
9. Woodworm (bad picture but holes are throughout protruding soft wood)
   

 

If I can supply any more pictures please just ask!

 

Thanks so much for lending your advice. I have a feeling a local surgeon is about to get a call (I checked the directory already!)!

 

Garrog.

[Garrog]

The panel fence doesn't look too old and appears to be above a large concrete base - if this is relatively recent then trenching near the tree will have had an effect, similarly alkalis from the concrete are likely to have a negative impact.

Thanks Arob. Yeah fence is holding up but they're nasty looking blocks - one or two taking a lean further down too! Apart from knowing it's all pre-2005 I could only guess when it was originally trenched - quite likely when the tree was mature though. Are apple trees sensitive to soil pH then? Maybe I could lower it somehow - would siting the next compost pile nearby help perhaps?

[Sr Mary]

This is not a reply but a question I haven't figured out how to post, though this seems to be the right place. Four out of five 100 year-old Bramley Seedlings in our monastery orchard have this year produced bracket fungi which I have identified (from this helpful site) as inodotus hispidus. It probably spread from an ash tree that was felled some years ago and has continued to produce fungus on the stump. When we had the ash cut down the tree surgeon assured us that they only needed to reduce the main limbs and it could live for many more years even though the heartwood was rotting. For safety reasons, because of its position, we had it felled. The Bramleys are not a danger and I am wondering if we can leave them (they crop very well) or if younger, 50 year-old trees will become infected with the fungus. I would be really grateful for any advice. Many thanks.

[Garrog]

This is not a reply but a question I haven't figured out how to post, though this seems to be the right place. Four out of five 100 year-old Bramley Seedlings in our monastery orchard have this year produced bracket fungi which I have identified (from this helpful site) as inodotus hispidus. It probably spread from an ash tree that was felled some years ago and has continued to produce fungus on the stump. When we had the ash cut down the tree surgeon assured us that they only needed to reduce the main limbs and it could live for many more years even though the heartwood was rotting. For safety reasons, because of its position, we had it felled. The Bramleys are not a danger and I am wondering if we can leave them (they crop very well) or if younger, 50 year-old trees will become infected with the fungus. I would be really grateful for any advice. Many thanks.

 

Sr Mary, after logging in, go to Homeowners Tree Advice Forum - Arbtalk.co.uk | Discussion Forum for Arborists and click on "New Thread" at the top. You will likely get more responses that way as well!