Beech Tree cut back

poggo · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 23 Aug 2011 Posts: 6

Hello all i am a newbie here and have a question, I hope this topic has not been coverd before, I have read Jame's post about the laws covering the felling of trees and i understand that. I am lucky enough to have aquired a Cottage in rural Kildare with half acre whose boundries are coverd with mature trees all beautiful as they have not been touched for many years. My problem is that on one side near the house are 3 trees 2 Beechs and one chestnut, the diameter of the Beechs is 7 foot and the chestnut is 8 foot they are over 80 foot tall, the chestnut I have no problem with cutting back as i have done this before, but I have been told that cutting back Beech this size can have dire conquenses. So this is my question, when is the best time to do this??is the cutting the same as for other trees???

tippben · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 10:15 pm Post subject:

Hi, if your beeches have a 7' diameter, not circumference, they are veteran trees, at the upper age spectrum for a beech. They should not be touched by anybody except a real expert; I'd recommend Tree Care Ireland, based in Carlow, who could arrange for an inspection, and put you in contact with a proper arboriculturalist. If you mess around, they may well die, become unstable, or succumb to a serious infection.

Definitely check for Ganoderma fungus, and also http://www.aie.org.uk/fungi_base/ustulina/aie_fungi_ustulina.html. at the base of the trees. These are very serious diseases of old beeches, and if they are near a house or road, they will need to be removed unfortunately.

tippben · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 10:18 pm Post subject:

Sorry, link appears not to work. The other fungus is Kretzschmaria deusta, which used to be called Urstulina deusta.

poggo · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 23 Aug 2011 Posts: 6

opps!!!! silly mistake I meant circumference, sorry about that and thank you for your replies, even though the info was incorrect i can only apologise(blush)
there is no fungus at the base of these trees eccept what you would expect on a healthy tree..again apologies.... Embarassed

Poggo

tippben · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 12:29 pm Post subject:

A healthy tree will only have "symbiotic" fungi, ie, those interacting with its roots, and any fruiting bodies would appear far from the trunk. Especially with beech, if there are any signs of bracket fungi, or other fungi growing from the trunk, or in the root buttresses, you really do need to get it checked out!

poggo · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 23 Aug 2011 Posts: 6

tippben · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 4:18 pm Post subject:

Solid brown hard top, with a white underside? Check the underside again. If your fingernail leaves a brown stripe, it is Ganoderma, or "Artist's fungus". This causes a brown cubicle rot inside the tree, and will prove fatal. The tree will become dangerous, and there is no cure. If it near enough to buildings or roads that when it falls it will cause damage, it must be removed. Sorry.

poggo · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 23 Aug 2011 Posts: 6

poggo · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 23 Aug 2011 Posts: 6

one further question can i protect the tree next to this one which shows no signs of this fungus????

Poggo

Anonany · Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 1:48 pm Post subject:

If it's any help -- and I'm not an expert -- about 15 yrs back we had to have a venerable old beech removed.

We were advised by the arborist that -- since fungus was the problem -- it would probably be unwise to plant another beech in the same spot. In respect of a couple of younger (but still quite substantial) beeches within 20 feet or so, he suggested we just play a "wait and see game".

The original beech was replaced by a lime tree and -- so far -- the two younger beeches are still happy and healthy.

It broke my heart to lose that wonderful and majestic tree ... but it did leave lots and lots of seedlings around its base ... which is some small consolation and a promise for the future !

Good luck with your trees.

poggo · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 23 Aug 2011 Posts: 6