Advice on walnut

[jeanesy]

Im after a bit of advice.

 

Ive been asked to look at a walnut for a hotel i do a bit of work for. They have been alerted by a garden cosultant or something, that this tree is a big risk and needs to come down. They love the tree and want to do whatever it takes to keep it as it makes the garden what it is....they've even had little walnuts made as garden ornaments.

 

Basically from what i can gather, this garden consultant has said that theres not enough soil to support the roots....not quite sure how they've come up with this, that its likely to fail at the base and that there was fungi growing at the base,

 

Ive had a good look at the tree and heres what ive come up with. The tree has quite a significant lean towards a summer house situated in the garden, There are a number of old pruning wounds which have not healed well and have started to decay (fairly common in walnuts), there are two patches of bark at the base of the tree which appear discoloured (possibly diseased/decayed), there appears to be the beginnings of a crack/fracture running along the trunk from where the tree bificates. This limb is of a significant size and leans heavily over the garden and towards the summer house. Without seeing and speaking to the manager of the hotel (which i am doing tomorrow) i dont know exactly what has been seen or said previously.

 

I've got a few thoughts, perhaps a very light reduction on the leaning limb and then bracing it?

 

Id really appreciate anyones opinion on this. Cheers

 

P.s Got some pics but seem to be having problems uploading...wont let me do it via the attachments button, any ideas?

[jeanesy]

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[David Humphries]

Any notion as to the species of fungi that has been seen at the base?

 

Do you have any images of the union and a context shot of the whole tree and it's lean toward the building?

 

P.s Got some pics but seem to be having problems uploading...wont let me do it via the attachments button, any ideas?

 

 

 

If your images are on a hard drive you may have to resize them before uploading

800 x 600.

[jeanesy]

 

 

 

 

[jeanesy]

Any notion as to the species of fungi that has been seen at the base?

 

Do you have any images of the union and a context shot of the whole tree and it's lean toward the building?

 

 

 

 

 

If your images are on a hard drive you may have to resize them before uploading

800 x 600.

 

Hi david

 

No insight as to what the fungi was as of yet, although i am seeing the manager today, maybe she'll have the report from the garden consultant.

 

Thanks for the heads up on the resizing of the photos:thumbup1:

 

Hope those help.

[jeanesy]

A little more info on the above walnut.

According to the report, which was done by a tree consultant, the trees roots were damaged/cut when the new bathroom was built. They have been measured (not sure how) and approximately 60% of the roots have been damaged/severed.

In a large storm recently, apparently the root plate lifted by about 10/15cm. It has since had new soil put around it.

The garden area is closed off to guests in bad weather, but the summer house in the garden is listed and is of historical importance.

There it's no mention of fungi in the report.

Could this tree be reduced heavily/pollarded and maintained in that way?

There has been talk of cabling the tree to the hotel building....something I've not come across before and would certainly not recommend, but apparently is an accepted practice over here.

Any other opinions would be appreciated, thanks.

[Ross Smith]

If they are keen in keeping the tree I would do a light reduction and monitor until fungi species is known

 

 

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[David Humphries]

So in essence, from what you have shared regarding the history and the visuals, you appear to have a tree that is leaning toward a target, has severed roots, a lifting root plate, damaged basal region with associated dysfunction between the roots and the trunk, decay (possibly coalesced inside the trunk) from non-occluded pruning wounds, and a weak main union...........and unconfirmed reports of unknown fungal species at ground level.

 

Mmmmm, I can guess what the majority of people would say

 

However, if the tree is still vital and can continue to put on a canopy of photosynthetic material and the client is of the opinion that they would like to retain it for aesthetic and cultural reasons (and is willing to provide a budget and have it regularly monitored) then a canopy reduction and bracing/tethering to the building is an option in my opinion.

 

 

Edit.....beat me to it Ross

.

[Ian Leach]

To me on pic one looks like it's been damaged by someone and then soil plastered on it. as same colour on left hand side of trunk.

[jeanesy]

So in essence, from what you have shared regarding the history and the visuals, you appear to have a tree that is leaning toward a target, has severed roots, a lifting root plate, damaged basal region with associated dysfunction between the roots and the trunk, decay (possibly coalesced inside the trunk) from non-occluded pruning wounds, and a weak main union...........and unconfirmed reports of unknown fungal species at ground level.

 

Mmmmm, I can guess what the majority of people would say

 

However, if the tree is still vital and can continue to put on a canopy of photosynthetic material and the client is of the opinion that they would like to retain it for aesthetic and cultural reasons (and is willing to provide a budget and have it regularly monitored) then a canopy reduction and bracing/tethering to the building is an option in my opinion.

 

 

Edit.....beat me to it Ross

.

 

I know, it doesn't sound good, in normal circumstances I wouldn't have a problem in agreeing with the initial report and condemning it. But I guess its a mixture of the owners keenness to keep it and the apparent good health and vitality of the canopy, plus I happen to have a soft spot for a walnut!! That makes me think that they could keep it in some shape or form.

Budget is not really an issue, I know they would be willing to do whatever it takes...within reason.

What method could have been used to measure how much root damage has taken place?

Gas anyone had any experience of cabling trees to buildings?