Poisoning large sycamore?

[benedmonds]

We did a "fairly" sympathetic reduction to a big sycamore in 2014, it had become exposed after a neighbouring beech tree had fallen down and a neighbour who lives under it was complaining allot.

 

We were called back to take some DW out earlier in the year but since then it has rapidly declined. I have no evidence but it was in good health and a whiny neighbour was making lots of noise. Is there anyway to indicate it might be poisoning or has the tree just not responded to the reduction..?

[Thesnarlingbadger]

I'd say sycamores are pretty hardy but one that size and that age my have wanted a lighter reduction. Not knocking the job.

The beech that came down my have been a factor as it has obviously exposed the sycamore.

No signs of fungus?

[Adam M]

Any drill-holes?

[Paul Melarange]

The use of chlorophyll fluorescence testing can be used to determine whether a tree has been poisoned. However, it probably wouldn't be feasible or appropriate in this case.

 

The die-back might be a result of poisoning. However, I think it is more likely to be a result of sun-scorch caused by a combination of the heavy reduction and the loss of the adjacent beech. The loss of foliage and the exposure of the previously shaded side of the crown on a thin barked tree could, in my opinion, lead to significant damage of the bark and cambium.

[benedmonds]

..... I think it is more likely to be a result of sun-scorch ....

 

Surely we would have had to have a period of sun.. Did we have a summer last year?

 

It was reduced in May 14, good regrowth in 2015, small amount of DW removed in Dec 15.

 

I have not had a look close up at the trunk yet.

[treequip]

Sycamore is the cockroach of the tree world and hard to kill, a bit of partial die back through squirrel damage isn't uncommon but sudden death is probably something to do with a bottle marked monsanto.

[Paul Melarange]

Surely we would have had to have a period of sun.. Did we have a summer last year?

 

Good point. For sun-scorch you would need some sun. That blows that theory out the water then! 😝

[David Humphries]

Any drill-holes?

 

..........I have not had a look close up at the trunk yet.

 

 

I was having a look at a few (glyphosate) poisoned plane trees last week.

 

The drill hole was fairly obvious on the trunk.

 

.

 

But don't forget to look down at the very base of the buttress roots as people can be very sneaky !

 

 

.