whats going on with my Hornbeam?

[normandylumberjack]

The crown is very healthy, I like hornbeam too- thats why I planted it. I am not so hot on the fungal side of tree care and thats why I asked for some help. I dont want to have the problem spread to my other Hornbeams, and as there are a lot of big words and latin names I don't understand in the above answers, I will remove it rather than run the risk of further fungal attack.

[Arctostaphylos uva-ursi]

Basically the fungi that have actually been identified so far are either beneficial or not causing any harm. I would actually wait until you can confirm what is at work here. Have you no other clue as to what may have caused the stem to appear the way it does? Do you have rabbits, deer, or sap sucking insects (beech scale) or similar?

It is very difficult to diagnose accurately from photographs. Although you may end up with someone's best guess.

Do you know anyone local to you who might be better equipped to diagnose it for you?

Removing it because their are some fruiting bodies around the base seems a bit drastic at this stage especially with a relatively young and vigorous tree.

 

Can you post some photos of the tree in its entirety before it is condemned please?

[normandylumberjack]

Basically the fungi that have actually been identified so far are either beneficial or not causing any harm. I would actually wait until you can confirm what is at work here. Have you no other clue as to what may have caused the stem to appear the way it does? Do you have rabbits, deer, or sap sucking insects (beech scale) or similar?

It is very difficult to diagnose accurately from photographs. Although you may end up with someone's best guess.

Do you know anyone local to you who might be better equipped to diagnose it for you?

Removing it because their are some fruiting bodies around the base seems a bit drastic at this stage especially with a relatively young and vigorous tree.

 

Can you post some photos of the tree in its entirety before it is condemned please?

 

No rabbits or deer in the garden, a lot of mole activity and shrews aswell. no insects to speak of other than the woodlice.

[daltontrees]

I am just wondering, when you planted this tree did you have a sling round the butt of it at any time, particularly to lift it out of the ground at the nursery or to lower it (rootballed) into the planting hole? That would be one good explanation of the bark damage at the base.

[normandylumberjack]

I am just wondering, when you planted this tree did you have a sling round the butt of it at any time, particularly to lift it out of the ground at the nursery or to lower it (rootballed) into the planting hole? That would be one good explanation of the bark damage at the base.

 

No, it was a small bare root sapling, about 1/2" diameter stem. It had a stake and strap for the first year or so.

 

Just thinking we had a major blast of wind a few months back, proper tree bender, could the stress cause the cracks? It has a big thick canopy so a lot of sail......... just an idea?