Meripilus Giganteus?

[Treeworld]

Hi,

 

I was asked to have a look at a TPO'd Beech tree with the client wanting a Reduction and deadwooding. Upon inspection the crown is very bare and I found the pictured fungus one new and the other probably last years around the roots. I believe it is Meripilus giganteus and due to the tree being right next to houses and a main road the other side of the houses I would suggest removal asap of the tree. Do you think its worth retaining by reduction? My thought is its in decline and given the targets and risks nearby then realistically removal is the way to go.

Edited September 11, 2016 by Treeworld
attach photos

[Kveldssanger]

Aye - Merip. Very sparse crown, indeed. Would probably advise to fell, in this case (though a reduction might work, if combined with mulching, crossed-fingers, and so on) - when the crown is this poor, Merip has usually caused extensive degradation via parasitism of the root plate.

[Treeworld]

Thank you, to the back of the houses runs the A2 london road through Faversham so this along with the houses says to me remove. If it was in a nice open space with no targets then maybe worth a try keeping but I think to much damage has been done. The client had been wondering why over the last few years its been getting sparser in the crown!

[Adam M]

Yo, if that pic is not autumn/winter, apply to fell.

[Treeworld]

Thank you , photo was from Friday afternoon!

[Treeworld]

Update on the tree, it has had the TPO lifted and removal approved by local authority. It's a huge and tricky job as the work zone is very limited. Is anyone interested in the bulk of the timber, it can not be felled so will be in chunks. Will need a hiab to lift out and over fence. Located in Faversham, anyone seriously interested in it please let me know. (no trunk kickers please:biggrin:)

The trunk is approx 4ft across up to 7 metres and loads of big boughs through the crown. Pricing for the job but by no means mine yet, have advised the client to obtain at least another 2 quotes and would be no problem if I do not get it.

[Arctostaphylos uva-ursi]

Sounds like you don't particularly want the job:sneaky2:

[Treeworld]

I'm keen on the job just honest with my client. Fully booked until mid January so it's a time and shifting months of work around that is the negative side. The first company that looked at it didn't even notice the disease and advised deadwood and reduce, once told it was TPO'd they lost all interest!

[Arctostaphylos uva-ursi]

Fair play. I was kind of hoping you would get it and post some pics of the extent of decay.

[Treeworld]

Sure will.