Chronic Oak Decline - What to do?

[hawk eye]

I friend of mine has a few acres of ancient oak woodland/ woodland pasture approx 50 years old. And at least 50% of the trees are showing severe signs of this diease, i.e

 

- many dead trees

 

- die-back (not just usual stag heading) on young

 

- lots of new growth on the main stem where the main branches have died back

 

- black sap like liquid running drown parts of main stem

 

This has all been made worse as a large percentage of trees have been damaged by cattle damaging bark when they rub/ scratch against them approx 10-15 years ago, causing infection.

 

Any idea's what he could do. I suggested he may have to get a felling licence to take out most of the dead/ dangerous trees and possibly some of the more severe cases to reduce spread of the diease, we have both read up as much as we can about it.

 

Thanks for any input in advance

[hawk eye]

Anyone

[openspaceman]

I friend of mine has a few acres of ancient oak woodland/ woodland pasture approx 50 years old. And at least 50% of the trees are showing severe signs of this diease, i.e

 

- many dead trees

 

- die-back (not just usual stag heading) on young

 

Far be it for me to comment on pathology but:

 

This is typical of many infections and AOD has many causes, probably in unison

 

 

- lots of new growth on the main stem where the main branches have died back

 

 

So the tree is reacting to the problem and making new growth where it can

 

 

- black sap like liquid running drown parts of main stem

 

 

The microbes attacking the tree structure are producing this black liquid as a byproduct of metabolism, there is a pressure build up and it has to go somewhere

 

 

This has all been made worse as a large percentage of trees have been damaged by cattle damaging bark when they rub/ scratch against them approx 10-15 years ago, causing infection.

 

 

You probably have cause and effect the wrong way around, the grazing pressure weakened the trees and microbugs took advantage.

 

 

Any idea's what he could do. I suggested he may have to get a felling licence to take out most of the dead/ dangerous trees and possibly some of the more severe cases to reduce spread of the diease, we have both read up as much as we can about it.

 

 

One does not need a felling licence to remove dead trees, evenso this is only removing the symptoms and extremely unlikely to affect the spread of any pathogenic agents.

 

If it's a production forest then fell and replant with a suitable different species, else wait and see.

[hawk eye]

Thanks catweazel nice to get a second opinion on the situation, all ideas welcomed

 

Thanks again

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

I wouldnt fell anything, youll not stop the spread, what you need is a turnaround of rooting environment.

[Lee Winger]

cattle=compaction=de-compact! by far the most severe compaction problems I ever seen in my ''de-compacting career'' have been caused by the patter of tiny feet.

 

How many trees are there?