Hi everybody,
I'm looking for some help/guidance on two mature beech trees I went to look at yesterday for a local farmer (Cork, Ireland).
The trees are two in a line of approx 20 other mature beech trees along the boundary of a field. The two subject trees have not developed a full flush of leaves at all this year. Surrounding trees are perfectly healthy showing no signs of stress.
There is no dieback in the crown yet. It looks as if it were april/may with buds bursting and new foliage appearing. But its July now and these trees should have a full dense canopy.
There is no signs of fungal fruiting bodies or bleeding cankers. I asked the farmer who is attentive to his trees if he had seen any fruiting bodies. No sign. I checked around the buttress for signs of previous years decaying fruiting bodies but no sign.
There has been no mechanical damage, no changes in ground level or soil compaction. No chemical of fertiliser applications occurred in the vicinity.
The crown has minor broken limbs, nothing unusual.
In Ireland last summer, we did experience unusual drought like conditions. This is the only thing I can think of that would have stressed the trees. The farmer didn't notice any signs of stress last year but he said he wouldn't have been looking at those trees particularly.
Would anybody have an idea as to what might be going on here?.
va.zip
Rare
