Garrog

Great, thanks!

Hi, We've noticed some growths of what seem to be elder, currant and another berry in nooks of an apple tree. If they are small (<12") can/should they be removed and if so can they be simply pulled out/cut off by an idiot (me) or is this a job you would recommend for an arborist - perhaps due to risk of infection? Thanks in advance!

Sr Mary, after logging in, go to Homeowners Tree Advice Forum - Arbtalk.co.uk | Discussion Forum for Arborists and click on "New Thread" at the top. You will likely get more responses that way as well!

Thanks Arob. Yeah fence is holding up but they're nasty looking blocks - one or two taking a lean further down too! Apart from knowing it's all pre-2005 I could only guess when it was originally trenched - quite likely when the tree was mature though. Are apple trees sensitive to soil pH then? Maybe I could lower it somehow - would siting the next compost pile nearby help perhaps?

Lol, no not Dougey, genuine! How funny it was your ad I found, hamadryad. That would obviously be brilliant if it's worth your while, TC. I'll PM you my details. The specimen is blooming nicely, probably 8" or so across now and turning knurly. Can I also say thanks to Alec for the link - some interesting stuff in there even if I didn't follow all the technical parts! Sound like there could be hope for reviving an old tree. Cheers all!

Wow. Thank you Alec and hamadryad. And I thought it was a gonner! I'm away for a couple of days but will read Alec's link properly asap. All your advice is much appreciated - I think the hacked branch is still ok but I'll have a closer look. Hamadryad, I'm in Aylesbury, Bucks. There's a company in Chesham - you think I should ask them to look at it? Please don't be offended if I don't check this for a couple of days while I'm away! I appreciate your time & advice I'll check in soon to sees if there's more to be said. G

Thanks so much for your help, hamydryad. Yeah we're quite attached to it so I was worried about it collapsing! I stupidly forgot to include a photo of where the nearest other apple tree is - it's about 10 yds away. If we leave the bracket on (and I noticed last night it's quite popular with the many slugs we harbour!), will the young tree be at risk of infection? I'm sure we'd rather keep the old tree even if it doesn't fruit, so I suppose yield was just a point of curiosity really. Good to know there isn't an immediate need to worry about trunk strength, that's something of a relief, but I assume it will slowly hollow out... I can see it ultimately giving way in a high wind, whenever in the future that might be - obviously we'd much prefer to prop it before that point if viable - what signs can we look for to know we're reaching that point, and could you guess if we're talking years or decades? I guess there's nothing to be done about butt rott - and thanks for the ID - but what of the holes? Big holes = bee? I attach a better picture of the woodworm limb too - would it help if I paint up some pictures to show where it is on the tree? Thanks! G.

Hi all, I would be really grateful if anyone would be willing to advise what to do with a mature apple tree in our garden. The main concern is a very recent bracket growth although on inspection there are also some other points of concern! To give some background, we believe our garden was once part of an orchard, so the mature apple, plum and pear would be at least 70 years old. Since we moved in in 2005, the apple has fruited well but this year it is fruiting little. About 4 years ago it had a heavy prune mainly at the top - one of the pictures shows where a large limb was hacked off (not by me!), and also some fairly extensive ivy was removed - during this a few bark cuts were sustained (again, not me!). Last year we noticed sawdust on a shrub below a limb which was sawed off and facing down. Finding holes about 3/8", from research I believe it is most likely a carpenter bee which I understand is harmless to the tree and beneficial to pollenation. Although I have never witnessed bees, the end continues to produce sawdust. A few days ago I noticed the bracket, which continues to expand impressively. I'm 99% certain the mushroom is a 'hairy bracket', or fruiting body of Inonotus Hispidus; having done some research I understand that while the fungus attacks only the old heart wood this is terminal and - when in the trunk as here - eventually leads to a tree which cannot support itself due to hollowing out. Finally, when taking the pictures I also noticed what appears to be a mature butt rot at the base and woodworm in one of the limbs. Most leaves look normal with just a few looking grey-brown toward the end (not pictured). I attach some pictures of the bracket, the tree situation and nearest other apple tree, and shots of various points on the infected tree which I hope will be useful in assessing it. If you don't mind, these are the questions for which I think I'm seeking answers. Of course, please correct me if any of the above is wrong or I'm asking the wrong questions! 1. Given that the bracket is a spore machine, would I be better to pull it off so that a) it won't drip spores into the ground and back in, b) it won't blow over to other trees, and c) the mycelium won't be so encouraged to develop in the trunk to support the fruit; or would the scar potentially cause more distress/secondary infection? 2. Could it in future produce fruit at previous quantities, or is the yield certain to be in terminal decline? 3. If we were to keep the tree, how viable is propping and how urgent is the need? 4. Should we remove the woodworm-infested branch? Pictures Close-up of the monster General Situation Trunk Trunk scar Limb scar Hacked Limb Bee work? Butt rot? Woodworm (bad picture but holes are throughout protruding soft wood) If I can supply any more pictures please just ask! Thanks so much for lending your advice. I have a feeling a local surgeon is about to get a call (I checked the directory already!)! Garrog.