Beech problems

[tt0081]

Hi,

 

I'm very new to this forum.

Any help on assessing what's wrong with this beech (fagus sylvatica atropunicea) would be greatly appreciated.

 

The first four images:

Graft area or repair wood?

Or both?

[tt0081]

Second set of images: root damage...

[tt0081]

Next:

Area of loosened bark on lower stem.

Armillaria?

Edited February 8, 2016 by tt0081

[tt0081]

Patches of loosened bark on root buttresses

[tt0081]

Overall pictures of the tree

[tt0081]

The beech is in a privately owned garden in my hometown in Belgium.

 

The current owners bought the property 10 years ago. The garden was laid out around that time. Before that, the garden area used to be a stretch of woodland or 'tree wilderness'.

The lawn stretches out partially underneath the beech's canopy.

 

Last years, the neighbours installed their own patch of grass, including a fence, just two meters off to the right of the stem. This obviously caused some of the root damage shown in the images I posted earlier.

 

Just 5 meters off to the far side of the beech is a crop field. It's been there at least 10 years: nitrification?

 

According to the owners the foliage has become thinner and thinner over the last 2 or 3 years.

 

They would like to retain the tree. Nevertheless: Since they run a B&B in the house, they want the garden to be a safe playground for the guests and the guest's children.

 

Any thoughts on symptoms, causes and/or advice about how to judge the viability of the beech are more than welcome!

 

regards,

Tom

Edited February 9, 2016 by tt0081

[treeseer]

The burls show some sign of vascular discontinuity but that is seldom an issue. Root damage pics show orange 'scar' tissue so the tree is responding well to the damage.

Any loose dead bark should be carefully removed and the area rinsed for diagnosis.

 

From all the pics I see no signs of concern over stability. If there are, a light reduction <10% off the ends with cuts <5 cm should allay them

[tt0081]

Hi Guy,

 

About the loose dead bark:

* In what way should the area be rinsed?

* What do you suppose could have caused this kind of bark/phloem damage?

 

I'll be visiting the beech in the course of next week and will seize the opportunity to take some pictures of the canopy.

 

Tom

[treeseer]

Gently removing dead bark and loose material comes first. Then a garden hose can finish the cleaning.

[Mark Bolam]

Good call.

Get the grit out so it doesn't blunt the big saw.