whats going on with my Hornbeam?

[normandylumberjack]

Hi Chaps,

 

Can anyone tell me what this "canker":blushing: is on the base of one of my Hornbeams?

I only noticed it today, and none of the other's I have seem to be effected. There is also a fungi growing next to it as you will see in the photos. The mulch only went down a month or two ago, so could that be responsible?

 

Any help much appreciated, and should the tree be removed or can it be cured? Its in an area of garden I planted as a mini arboretum, so dont want it to spread to other trees.

 

Thanks in advance.

[David Humphries]

Image edit....

 

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[David Humphries]

Image edit....

 

 

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[David Humphries]

Fungi look to be Paxillus involutus - the brown roll rim, which is a mycorrhizal species

 

 

 

Check below the mulch for rhizomorphs of Armillaria.

 

If present, it may be associated with the bleed

 

 

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[normandylumberjack]

I had a poke about under the mulch and found loads of woodlice, a fair few worms and these other fungi, they are small and brown.

Thanks for putting the pictures straight! Also, I took one close up of a split as it seems to have fungi in it?

 

Your help much appreciated.

[David Humphries]

I think the small orangey ones coming out of the ground are possibly Laccaria laccata, again a mycorrhizal species.

 

The (yellow ones?) in the crack are to small and covered for a proper stab at an Id if they are indeed fruitbody's, but location would lead me to either the saprophytic sulphur tuft or Armillaria.

 

Let's see them when they're more developed.

 

 

 

 

 

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[normandylumberjack]

Thanks David. The ones in the crack look like dried porridge oats if that helps? I don't imagine that the tree is going to develop in a healthy manner with all this fungal activity, looks like it will have to be replaced. Shame .

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

I agree with all that David has said, adding that the brown roll rim is both saprotrophic and mycorrhizal generalist and a tree of this age in this condition would not be producing fruitbodies of that size unless they had gone sapro on the dead tissues associated with that canker.

 

In this case I would be inclined to remove and replant

[normandylumberjack]

Thanks for the feedback guys, It looks like the shovel will come out today and a replacement purchased from the local nursery. I think a Cedar of Lebanon would look good in its place.

 

Any ideas what may have caused the fungus/cracking? we have a lot of woodlice here, and my yard has all kinds of logs and chip in it, though i try to keep it neat and tidy.

[Arctostaphylos uva-ursi]

A bit early to condemn it is it not?

Is the crown still healthy?

Has the bark ever been damaged by a mower/strimmer/tree stake/deer etc.?

 

Sorry to be a killjoy, but I like hornbeam and it would be a shame to see it go if it is not in imminent danger.