Tree disease pictures and other miscellany

[Kentish Man]

Can anyone tell me what diseases some of the following are?

Here's one of a beech - sadly almost every beech in the area had the same thing:

http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/af197/KentishMan/DSC05235.jpg

A lot of the coppice stools also had something odd going on - some were partially stripped - is this squirrel damage? And a lot were just withering away too:

http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/af197/KentishMan/DSC05221.jpg

Is this normal in Silver Birch - the blackened twisted fissures at the base of the stem?

http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/af197/KentishMan/DSC05212.jpg

And finally - what are people's thoughts on Ivy in woodland? I spotted a lot of Ivy in a tall Oak today and felt that it must suck a lot of nutrients away from the Oak with such a thick woody root like this...

http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/af197/KentishMan/DSC05223.jpg

[jillybean]

Hi KM goodness that looks like my wood. I know nothing of tree diseases but, That birch looks normal to me, and ive never heard so many different opinions about ivy since I started asking every one I met what they thought I should do about mine. some of my trees are being held up by ivy. Have cut it off a few, just by removing that first meter and letting it die. theres no difference in the health of the tree yet, keeping a close eye on them. the coppice is old and probably starved of light now but i would say yes its squirrel damage, but decades old. not a clue on the Beech Im afraid

[Kentish Man]

Thanks jillybean - don't worry - it wasn't your wood!

I thought the SB was normal - except I've never been able to ask anyone whether when they go like that, they are normal or not...I was happy snapping today, so thought I could ask the SWOG panel of judges!

What had happened to the coppice had happened to a fair number of trees in the area as well - there were also some young coppice stools that looked like they had been twisted as well as stripped...its a bit gross this close to tea-time too, but I did snap a shot of some animal dung that appeared to be quite frequent in the areas affected. Oh well, I guess its a first to google 'squirrel poo'.

[tracy]

Hi Kentish Man

Looks all pretty normal to me- Beech perhaps struck by lighting? (just a guess though) In my very limited experience woodlands have all kinds of things going on in trees!

The chestnut could be phytophrora (spelling?) or just age.... or old damage of some kind.

The Ivy - it is not a parasite and from what I have read as long as it doesn't cover the crown (reducing the trees access to light) it is fine. Our plan is to simply keep it under control so that it doesn't get too heavy for the trees.

One tip though! Cut the thick stems a year before felling, as it is very very hard work to remove!

[wood troll]

Hi KM,

my guess with the beech trees is old age and damage (wind, dropped boughs, etc) have let in fungus. I would guess the woodland is neglected with old trees and the only cure is with a chainsaw and replanting.

Ivy is one of those difficult ones.... its great for wildlife but can strangle trees if left to get too big. A case by case decision!

Silver birch looks fine to me.

wood troll

[Darren]

The coppice stool looks like deer fraying.

[Kentish Man]

Thanks for the replies - here's another picture of another Beech in the same vicinity (I did have yet another picture of another different tree as well, but the picture didn't come out too well):

http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/af197/KentishMan/DSC05247.jpg

Here's another chestnut with the same kind of thing on it:

http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/af197/KentishMan/DSC05246.jpg

And perhaps the best illustration overall of many of the coppiced chestnut:

http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/af197/KentishMan/DSC05220.jpg

[jillybean]

The Beech is still a mystery, they cant all be struck by lightning can they? Middle pic of chestnut is Squirrel damage if ever i saw it. they are getting the sugars out of the bark apparently, authough some say its frustrated young makes being vandals.

[RichardKing]

I am coming in rather late into this discussion.

.

The Beech appears to bend away from the site of the original damage & is probably a fork or branch that has split off. The wound has then become the entry point for fungi.

.

The Sweet chestnut, again physical damage, this time low down. Tree growing around the wound, death/peeling of bark above. Could have been caused by almost anything, deer, rabbits, boar, car etc.

.

Birch in this country growing under mild conditions is relatively short lived & always seems to suffer from infections causing cankers.

.

Ivy. Have read a report of a long term experiment that claimed that Ivy did not inhibit the growth of trees. It forms an important habitat for wildlife and the flowers on mature ivy are an important late food source for bees.

[Kentish Man]

Thanks be to you all for your replies. Much appreciated.