Tree Disease

Thankfully this limb failure caused no real damage to people or to the adjoining property, but this is a good example of how unnoticed tree disease can have a serious impact.In this case, a limb had broken away and failed because the tree was riddled with Ganoderma fungus, a wood-decaying funghi that can grow on both hardwood and coniferous species of tree.  Ganoderma is a  white-rot fungi with enzymes that allow it to break down internal wood components such as lignin and cellulose.

The symptoms of Ganoderma can sometimes be difficult to spot but in the main, this is one of the easier diseases to see.  Ganoderma is characterized by fan or hoof-like funghi that grow on the trunk, often quite near the bottom.  The funghi are not edible and feel quite tough and leathery to the touch. They’re also known as conks!  You can see the funghi that did for this tree growing above the black decay pocket in the photo below.

What should you do if you spot this on your trees?  Ganoderma certainly doesn’t always mean the tree has to come down, but it is wise to take a professional opinion.  Call Andrew on 01256 817369 or 07771 883061 for free advice and quote,  or simply to talk about the options.