AJStrees

How have trees reacted to the tigermulch and compaction underneath?

I know what you mean, yes it is also quite a maintenance issue. its all down to time and money I reckon and weather we want to spend money on it or deal with other more urgent issues with trees on the site. Will have to put it on the 10 year plan I think.

Yeah exactly and hopefully would save the tree long term.

Looking into the long term then, with other trees to consider, would a raised walkway, essentially on stilts, be a solution? A single row of stout oak piles supporting a long "rope bridge" effect walkway? I guess it's cost versus effect.. would cost less to drop the tree! are there other noteworthy trees along the path? There is nothing too special along the walkway tree wise. I like the idea of the walkway on stilts and that might work quite well. We had to do similar over the top of a badger sett where the pathway had collapsed in on the sett, so we built a bridge and platform over the top to a) help the badgers and b) keep away from a dangerous old path. Since the bridge there hasn't been any problems. So the same sort of thing might be a good idea as you say. Will speak with the guvnor about it.

Yeah anything here sounds likes its going to cost a bit to do. Tree does seem fine and probably not massive amounts of compaction happening but for the sake of this tree, it may be worth it. Others trees along the path too which have yet to create much damage with the roots. I need to think a bit more about this project.

Hi Mike, I am studying my HCC Arboricultural Diploma with HCC at the moment. I agree with almost everything the other guys have said and yes there is a lot to take in and learn. I never got any formal qualifications or any real education in my early years so have good reality on the area of being totally crap at study and then becoming a lot better. Key points to deal with in study are: 1. Keep the level of significance and mass balanced. It is really important not to just study theory endlessly without getting pictures and also seeing the physical objects during the study as well as doing the actions involved in the course 2. Make sure you really understand what you are studying and do get it before moving onto the next subject, if you find you are having trouble with the chapter you are on or lesson and feel confused then likely there was something in the earlier chapter that did not fully make sense 3. Most important is to make sure you understand all the words within the study. There is a huge amount of nomenclature in this area and I find myself learning words every single day. Using a good Botany dictionary or the internet can be of tremendous help. Also try to understand the etymology of the word as that will give you a deeper understanding of it. Use the word in examples until you feel really clear on that one word you may not have understood. You probably have a lot more experience and training in the field than I, so I wouldn't want to comment on the training itself. But hope the above helps. Also the tutors at HCC are very helpful and yes just ask questions and take the time to do it in a nice quiet space where you can get on with learning and answering the questions completely and fully until you and your tutor are satisfied with your answers. But most of all. You have to spend the time studying. Like I probably should be now.

A bit of a conundrum with this pine tree. The tree is looking great and looks in pretty good health. One of just a few remaining at the top of the site where I work and this one is still growing well. Its also evergreen and keeps things looking interesting in its locale. However as you can see in the photos the roots of this tree go under a fairly heavily used path. The path used to be tarmac and the roots ripped up the tarmac. In 2015 the path was dug up and then resin bound gravel was put down instead. The roots are starting to come through the path now and this will be an ongoing saga I can only imagine. I think I need to either move the path, which would be a bit odd looking or potentially put some sort of bridge over the path area, take up the path and leave it as soil underneath the ramp/bridge. But again that also may look odd. Anyone got any ideas of what is the best way to solve it. I am surprised the tree itself is still doing so well. Apologies, the photos are not the best.

whats that off?

That's excellent direction. Thank you David. Ok will work on it. Its always down to being able to spend the time on these things. Though hugely interesting, doing this in between being out on the grounds does make it a bit of a challenge.

Okay. Don't know it. But then I suppose a lot of the big oaks look quite similar. Along with the red brick houses in this area. LOL!

looks like a big oak. Where is it? That tree looks very familiar, I work in West Sussex.

I believe there is a difference with what is called "enriched biochar", this is the product I have heard has great effects. Have had a few companies in to tell me about it as regards improvement with supplementary use of other machines to decompact soil while also using the enriched biochar to improve compaction and nutrition of soil where years of above ground works such as mulch circles had not created the necessary effect towards the health of the tree. But that is also not to say that mulch circles do not help trees, as I have seen results myself. They have also recommended adding "enriched biochar" to the mulch circle and watering it in to make improve the tree health. (Not a new idea in the horticultural world but something that I have started doing with some of the trees where I work). So I think it means there are things that can be done to improve the health of trees whereas earlier the conservation of the tree may not have been seen as possible and would have been potentially differed in structure or removed due to root rot or other such issues. https://www.carbongold.com/250-trees-saved-using-enriched-biochar-and-deep-soil-decompaction/

That looks impressive. Being sweet chestnut do you think it will have a large root plate? Does one have to get down far to determine the extent of any rot on the roots or is is quite visible higher up near the root crown?

Early morning this tree looked particularly good with all the witches broom going on.

I thought about it.

I have been campaigning a little bit for biochar. At the moment it seems not a lot of people believe healing trees with this and other fertilizers is very realistic. However I think the tide is turning and tree conservation is becoming more and more a thing. Its all down to the cost of this stuff I would say. I read your survey. don't think it applies to me too much as I work on an historic estate and up until now chipping has not been the norm. Burning for bonfire night or other such solutions have been the norm. We do own a chipper but its out of action at the moment.

whats the best way to learn all of the different fungi and their qualities/effects on trees? I have seen very similar on some of our beech trees and thought it looked like australe. Obviously there are different ones that are similar. ?

I see okay. Would you recommend a way to find out what the root structure would be like under there? this is a fairly large tree by a pond and steps in an area where quite a few visitors walk. Hope you don't mind me asking for free consultation.

I have recently finished read the Oliver Rackham book on English Countryside and its History. Very very interesting and sounds similar to what you write about. Nicely done by the way. There seems to be a hell of a lot to learn on this subject and seemingly what we all think is the history of our woodlands and pastures as was, is not the case based on this book. Which makes things ever more interesting. I just stumbled across this section of the forum. What a great place.

Is Hypholoma fasciculare a fungus to worry about?

during a walk around we did with the ATF, David informed us that they had had root radar done on some of the oaks near a path in Hampstead Heath woods. It was quite interesting to know this technology is now being used with good results. Has anyone else use this with good results?

Hypholoma fasciculare Thanks David. Looks like it.

indeed and there is a lot of it about. Have yet to see oysters myself, but looking out for them. Some of the dreaded H Fungus at the base of a Sweet Chestnut as of yesterday.

I quite liked the look of this the other week at the back of an old woods where I work.

Yes that too!