Yellow growth at base of Ash Tree

[Buchheim]

Something strange is happening to my backyard ash tree.

 

I am looking to build a deck around the base of the tree; however, before I decided to do that I did something foolish and covered the base with dirt and soil. I noticed there strange growths about 2 years later. I removed the dirt and soil and want to move forward with my deck around the tree, but once every week or two I get these strange yellow growths at the bottom. They start small but can grow several inches wide. They are soft but dense.

 

Any idea what this is...what is causing it...and what can be done to ride myself of this?

 

I also noticed there are some small dead white worms at the base of the tree as well. They are about 1/4 of an inch long. Not sure if this is related...what they are...and how to rid myself of those as well.

 

Cheers!

[David Humphries]

I would think fruiting bodies may be the early growth stage of a fruiting body of a fungi called Perenniporia fraxinea

 

http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/tree-fungi-76.html

 

 

 

 

The 'white worms' may be the larvae of crane flies

 

.

[Wolfie]

I would think it may be the early growth stage of Perenniporia fraxinea

 

 

 

 

.

 

That's exactly what I was going to say if I could of remembered the first part of it's name....not looking good for my PTI next month.

 

 

Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

[David Humphries]

Is there a way to correct this issue?

 

You can't get rid of a fungal infection like Perenniporia

The mycelium will be at work (decaying) the central old core of the base of the tree and perhaps in to dysfunctional parts of the root system.

 

There also appears to be some evidence of roots that are partially girdling the trunk buttresses.

 

 

 

.

[Buchheim]

Are there any corrective measures that I can take? Should I trim much of the tree down since It's quite tall (about 80 feet) and in a residential area?

[David Humphries]

Are there any corrective measures that I can take? Should I trim much of the tree down since It's quite tall (about 80 feet) and in a residential area?

 

That's perhaps one option.

 

 

I would suggest employing an Arboriculturist who can assess the situation on site.

 

You would then get sound advice to act upon

 

 

 

.

[Jesse]

Get a lab test done at Forest Research Alice Holt Station, take a sample rap it in wax paper and post in an envelope , cost is about £80 if it comes back as Perenniporia fraxinea then my advice just take it down and replant with a different species . Don't mess about.

[daltontrees]

Either you keep a collection of US coins for photo opps or you are in the US. Maybe there is somewhere more local that will do fungal idents for you.

 

Reducing the height might do 2 things, first make the the more stable, particularly in high winds and second deprive it of canopy that produces the energy to fight fungal infection. If DH is right about your tree having P. f (he usually is right) then on balance you are better to reduce risk by pruning and accelerate demise of tree than to not prune and have a longer lasting riskier tree. It's not going to get better anyway.

 

Me, I'd reduce it gradually over a number of years until I had a squat tree to sit safely under.