Tony Croft aka hamadryad

2 hours ago, Tommy Hutchinson said:

Did this tree fail?

Its on Ben Ballards estate I will ask.

On 21/10/2019 at 01:23, Hadyn98 said:

Hi ,

I have an oak tree on my front boundary with strange dark marks in the forks.  A tree surgeon who was working a few doors down commented that the tree is infected (I can't remember if he said it had a virus or bacteria or?)  and would eventually die and so needs to be taken out , he would charge £xxx to do it.  (I had asked him to look at other trees in my garden, so it wasn't an unsolicited comment or cold calling. )

However, I am a bit sceptical of someone who cuts trees down for a living saying my tree needs to be cut down.!

I see mention of Slime Flux / bacterial wetwood, but it's not clear to me this is the same symptoms.  I wasn't aware of any smells, and doesn't seem to attract insects. 

 

I was wondering if anyone could comment on these pictures ?

 

The tree seems to be in good health otherwise.

 

Thanks,

Hadyn

that tree just has a poor genetic coding, making it prone to odd unions, see whole forests of oaks in Buckinghamshire with similar bad genetics.

On 16/12/2019 at 23:56, openspaceman said:

I hope you stung them for the extra, I doubt I would ever have been brave enough to fell a stem that size from a strop.

Nah grow a pair and lump em off! (well aware of the obvious missing helmet, 200 kilometers from home left behind)

5 hours ago, Tommy Hutchinson said:

Staverton in Suffolk?

yep

On 21/07/2019 at 22:18, Mark Bolam said:

Guilty as charged, and I totally agree.

 

Let’s try and clean it up a bit fellas.

blx to that

sorry for the slow reply Rob, will be in touch

On 9/25/2017 at 11:10, Rob D said:

Sorry only just seen the reply Tony - where you thinking?

A few guys over here in Bg (Bulgaria want them and from what I can gather they would sell well here, whenever the guys see me do it they get dollar signs in their eyes!

PENTECRYL

PENTECRYL

probably die standing armillaria

1 minute ago, Wolfie said:

Did you manage to make that trip to Hungary?

Bulgaria- been here for 2 years now

48 minutes ago, Mark Bolam said:

I can feel an Arbtalk tasting tour coming on Tone....

I think the Rakia is going to be your choice! and believe me,  you have no idea! russian occupation made this a hard drinking clan!

58 minutes ago, Joe Newton said:

Sounds interesting Tony, what's the strength like? Wine that we buy here seems stronger than a few years ago.

When I was in Croatia the owner of the house we used made his own red in his garage, was very light for a red and was served chilled. Really refreshing.

Strength varies from family to family but the one family i like buying from its average strength but strength is a strange thing in pure organic wine. We can drink this stuff all night with no hangover whatsoever and without that drowsy feeling either.

Often a drop of lemon is squeezed into  the glass which makes it become a very refreshing light dinner choice, wine is "different here" we have one vine but wee plant a new small vineyard in the spring with the intention of producing 200 liters per annum.

Well I* live in Suhindol Bulgaria, we buy wine in 10 liter bottles, chemical sugar free for around 30 Leva (Bulgarian) Bout 12 quid! Marc bolam would need a new liver if he was out here!

Great wine, totaly organic and local as a stones throw.... I know, but hate the game not the player

On 5/1/2016 at 23:51, Island Lescure said:

What? It stops here?

It never really stops, just a breather for composure, it was getting out of hand around here so i took a "vacation"

That would re pollard 2-3 metres up if ALL growth and bud below remains, wicked tree and the kind of work I get up for

Bacterial wet-wood is the brown ooze, an internal cavity  of around 60% is expected in old trees and safe but getting close to the threshold of 70% decay (T/R ratios Prof Claus Mattheck) The black area over the wound could be psuedosclerotial or a tar treatment hard to say.

Are you sure its sycamore? and not Acer sacharinum/negundo etc?

Acers do not have heartwood by the way, ripewood yes, but not  a durable heartwood like Oaks for example

Pseudomonas syringae pv aesculi,

whilst the tree is seriously compromised it is mostly just because of the weight and leverage on the main stem and particularly the decayed root system. The tree can be retained (no question) but it would have to be as a pollard and greatly reduced form. Limes are fantastic survivors and some of the oldest trees, often failing only to regrow. I would like to see it salvaged as apposed to felling it on a fear alone basis. 

9 hours ago, essexjack said:

Cheers mate already learned something today have s good one.

At least give Mr Humphries a challenge!

12 hours ago, kev7937 said:

Is it not Sophora japonica or whatever they call it now? The pagoda tree.

Bingo, good man, prize en route!

A very nice summary of the situation Andy- matching pretty much my own conclusions using the same references. Its important as arbs we truly get to grips not only with proper identification but also the true nature of the fungi identified and also the differing rates of colonisation and decay of given tree species.

Gerrit Keizer illuminates greatly on the subject with his T.S.S.E (Tree species specific ecosystem) approach but sadly no translation in English as yet.

G. resinaceum is by far the most aggressive of the three, and even Oaks (Q. robur/petrea) will succumb in due course, with Q. cerris falling to its strategy far sooner due to its less resistant biology.

Fortunately we have a new army of observers taking pictures and asking questions, as before tree mycology was largely neglected in arboriculture, interesting times ahead no doubt some surprises for all those that didnt listen in the early days when a few of us tried to say that some of these fungi have significant impacts.

Get your self down to Whippendell woods andy! Also Rickmansworth aquadrome

19 hours ago, AWarb00 said:

ok thanks for that, is a shame as its a huge tree.

yes I can imagine that but unless a beech has been reduced hard at an early part of its life 200-300 is a maximum. pollarded  they may double this

I have to confess I miss the good old days but for one particular bloke, the old arbtalk is dead, long live the new one I say.

Yes it was you Blair you northern monkey

g.  resinaceum is aggresive and progresive.