Razzle

Thought it was rubbish but having been next to a radiator in the cellar for a while has made really good kindling

Less likely to be a bacterial wetwood,may well be a bacterial canker of which pseudomonas syringae (which most commonly though not exclusively effects horse chestnut) is an example. Treatment with the use of liquid phosphites both as trunk washes and soil injection has proved to be effective at improving symptoms and overall tree vitality (phosphites trigger the trees own defence systems). If you're studying at myerscough ask Jim Willoughby about it!

If there is evidence of Pseudomonas Syringae Bleeding Canker which is more often associated with Horse Chestnuts (but not exclusively) then scientific trials have proven that excising the lesions with a Dremmel style tool and then applying a bark and scaffold drench containing Phosphites can have significantly beneficial effects as they have been shown to help trigger the trees own defence system. When Phytophthora is suspected the use of an ELISA test kit on affected tissue (lesion or root) will help confirm.

Yes eradication virtually impossible once a pest is outside a controlled environment ie glasshouse, lab etc. Have been involved in the control programme for OPM which has been running for a no of years around the Kew, Richmond and Barnes areas with trial and treatment works at Syon Park. Very effective on target trees but costly and environmental conditions must be right (little or no breeze and dry),plus the logistics of spraying large Oak trees in public areas can be a real head scratcher even if the treatment is perfectly safe (except for caterpillars!!)

As far as the Horse Chestnut is concerned Dexta, you SHOULD be worried.Year on year HCLM is becoming more severe and more widespread. Yes trees can compensate for foliar damage of one sort or other but not indefinitely. Once the tipping point has been reached, overall vitality drops significantly leaving the tree more susceptible to Psuedomonas bleeding canker and Phytophthora, amongst other pests and diseases. A significant amount of research has been carried out over a no. of years by leading industry experts including Dr Glynn Percival and the scientific papers to back up the research have been available for years. Unfortunately the Forestry Commission are doing the Horse Chestnut no favours when it continues to give misleading advice stating "not to worry ,the tree will reflush next year"!! Well that's great but as with all foliar pests and diseases,or at least the effects caused on the leaves of deciduous trees, yes, of course the tree will come into leaf the following year, but each year the symptoms will generally become worse until it succumbs to another pathogen or chainsaw. The bottom line is the Horse Chestnut is finished as an adopted native species in the UK without a more proactive approach to tackling pests and disease from institutions like the Forestry Commission and Forest Research who are great at telling us all about the symptoms and spread of a particular problem but appear unable to endorse other bodies research with regard to treatment because they haven't had the funding to produce the science themselves. Sounds hard to believe? Well I was crestfallen when I met a particular Forest Research scientist a few years ago (who I shall leave anonymous) who's idea for a management strategy for pests and disease in trees was either to do nothing other than to monitor it, or cut it down and burn it. Proactive management strategies have been proven and available for a host of prominent UK pests and diseases for along time ie Oak Processionary Moth, Phytophthora sp. HCLM to name a few. Hopefully with the publicity around Ash dieback (Chalara fraxinia) there will be more pressure to come up with treatments, they exist already for Ash Dieback its just a matter of getting one registered for UK use. Its time to start moving away from our chainsaw culture and start adopting,or at least acknowledging other methods and practices. Sorry for the rant but we still seem to be so far behind the US when it comes to tree health care.

Hi Adam, yes mulching is by far and away the best single thing you can do for any tree whether newly planted or over mature. Just be careful not to bury the root collar and mulch as wide as possible. The other thing you can do is to take a sub surface soil sample and carry out an NPK nutrient analysis and pH test. The tree could then potentially be fertilised with a slow release fertiliser either by soil injection or surface broadcast. Have had alot of experience and success with this and other tree care treatments including Opm, hclm etc over the last 10 years plus.

An important factor to consider with regard to the various Phytophthora's is making the distinction between Woodland trees and Amenity ones. If an amenity tree is of value (to the owner,neighborhood,has historic value etc) then the potential for treating the soil and/or tree is not only feasible but practical. In a Woodland or Forest environment it is not. Arboriculture deals with the well being of an individual tree and on that basis soil and canopy treatments are valid and necessary to maintain diversity in the urban environment.

Interesting to see oak leaf miners causing this amount of damage so early in the season. Currently selectively spraying some Horse Chestnuts to prevent heavy HCLM infestation in the northwest. Much more effective than disease control even with a single treatment and healthier foliage means reduced susceptibility to pseudomonas and phytophthora. Treatment for oak leaf miner would have to differ with it being a weevil.

A new website for a new business.A bit different to the usual pruning,felling,stump grinding planting,etc. Comments please!!GreenTreeHealthcare

Time to start encouraging more people to mulch their trees!!

Stopped yesterday to take these pics which perfectly illustrate the damage HCLM (Horse Chestnut Leaf Miner) has on its host compared to other deciduous trees at this time of year. Sure the tree will produce fresh leaves in the spring but as with most foliar disease and insect infestations, without intervention will only get worse, until the tree succumbs to another pathogen or is condemned sooner. The irony is HCLM is easy to treat with 1 or 2 well timed sprays and some good housekeeping practice many of our under threat Horse Chestnuts could be managed and enjoyed for years to come

Stockport based Air Spade with 10 years experience.(Blowing a lot of hot air!) Out of curiosity what are the trial pits for? Feel free to give us a bell 0161 477 9831

Hi Swampster, the property behind looks pretty new and that retaining wall is close to the Tulip suggesting a significant change in the soil level. Looking at the picture the first thing that strikes me is no evidence of root flair. If you get a chance dig down and see if you can expose the flair, although to be honest it looks like the damage is already done.The lower trunk decay is likely to be as a result of this incorrect soil level and possibly exacerbated by strimmer/mower damage from grass growing right up to the tree. Any occasion a tree appears to be sticking out of the ground like a lamp post alarm bells should start ringing. If the soil level changes by even a couple of inches it can be hugely detrimental, although in this case the tree is likely to have suffered significant root loss too.

My fault, looking for tree health care threads and posts and unsurprisingly there arent many.Will have to resolve this!!

Spray rigs for mature trees consist of engines, large pumps and a decent spray gun. Possible to get in the UK but not easily, had mine custom built after 10 years working as a Technician for Bartletts. Worked nationally treating Horse Chestnut Leaf Miner, Oak Processionary Moth at Kew and surrounding areas etc. Spray rigs and their services common in the US where Bartletts is based. Need more companies to offer the service here.

Try not to give up on the Horse Chestnut just yet. Lots of plants and trees suffer with pests and diseases and the HC is no exception. Bleeding Canker can be managed or even suppressed depending on level of severity of symptoms and combined with cultural methods like raking up effected leaves and airspading HCs can easily be treated for Leaf Miner with an environmentally friendly spray. Always Air spade/Soil pick over Terravent and combine with mulch, fertilise with slow release organics if required.

HCLM (Horse Chestnut Leaf Miner) has been a serious problem for UK Chestnuts for a number of years now having spread rapidly from the SE in a short time. Only 4 years ago our company was warning clients in the Manchester/Cheshire area to be vigilant for the signature leaf margin feeding tunnels and to be grateful that their HCs only had bleeding canker. HCLM has now reached the borders and beyond. Once HCLM has taken hold photosynthetic ability is hugely impaired.Early defoliation is likely and the tree becomes unsightly. The HC becomes stressed and is therefore more susceptible to other pathogens. In the case of the HC these pathogens are likely to be Bleeding Canker (Pseudomonas syringae) and Phytophthora. Combined these afflictions are wiping out the UK HC population and yet all are treatable. Bleeding Canker and Phytopthora can be managed or suppressed depending on severity of symptoms while HCLM is easy to control with a foliar spray that is safe for bees,ladybirds and other beneficial insects. Important and beautiful veteran HCs are being felled unnecessarily because institutions like the Forrestry Commision are, I am sorry to say, giving out poor advice.