CRAIG78

Thanks for your time with this Jay. Do you mind me asking a few questions about your red oak please? How long have the Ganoderma brackets been present on the tree and how many are there? What approximate age is your tree? And what do you intend on doing with it, given the decay you describe? I'm just looking to build as much field info as I can before I approach the new owners. Best of luck all round mate. Craig

Thanks for your input David - really interesting to have an expert set of eyes on this, despite the limitations of the photos/context. I will certainly be keeping a close eye on developments and when I move into the property in early January '23, I will at the first opportunity mention the presence of the brackets to the new owners of the tree (they themselves are also yet to move in, adding to the complexities here!) and I will update the thread in the near future. Obviously, my overall aim is to ultimately try to maximise the life of the tree, though with one eye on the potential for it not to make it past a tree inspection. The storms of late 2021 and early 2022 suggest that indeed, the oak retains good structural integrity at this stage and this, together with the otherwise good vitality you mention, hopefully point to there being life in it yet. If nothing else, it will hopefully provide a useful case study for future reference. Thanks again - much appreciated. Craig, Northumberland

Thanks Stubby. Is David around? 😅

Hello there, I would really appreciate any expertise on these brackets. They are fruiting out of the butt of an Oak which is in the neighbouring garden of a house I am purchasing. They're clearly Ganoderma but which variety, as it is my understanding that some Ganoderma species are more invasive than others? I’m afraid I don’t have any photos of the undersides. I'm not a tree expert but from what I can tell from current visual observations of the tree (albeit in leaf-fall phase) along with historical Street View images and recent estate agent photography, the tree itself appears to be maintaining a healthy crown with no clearly visible limb damage or thinning. I know this obviously doesn’t mean that all is well but all I do know is that the brackets were not visible in Summer 2009. The specimen (possibly a Red Oak?) is an absolutely beautiful tree. No property targets though it lies on a quiet road and directly over two driveways. Picus survey required? Thanks in advance for any advice - it is hugely appreciated.