"I have a fatal disease" says my Beech Tree

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Saturday, October 23. 2010

"I have a fatal disease" says my Beech Tree

I have a fatal disease in my large, probably 100 year-old Copper Beech tree. I have diagnosed it as Beech Bark Disease. I've seen the same bark disease on many old Copper Beeches recently - areas of shedding bark on the trunk and dying branches high overhead. It's a damn shame.

Posted by Bird Dog in Gardens, Plants, etc., Natural History and Conservation, Our Essays at 11:25 | Comments (10) | Trackbacks (0)

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Yep, up here, all of the ash trees in the region died due to the Emerald Ash borer, including the only tree we had in our yard. Sad.

#1 Deb on 2010-10-23 11:48 (Reply)

Post a recipe for the Ash Borer with asparagus tips and almonds in a balsamic reduction.
The Foodie-twits will clear up the problem in one season

#2 Vermont Woodchuck (Link) on 2010-10-23 12:01 (Reply)

I spewed coffee everywhere thanks to your comment. Too funny!

However, very sad about any sick specimen as we are losing stock too quickly.

#2.1 jma on 2010-10-23 14:37 (Reply)

Is the whole tree dead? Or could that hideously expensive and elaborate spraying with horticultural oil etc. still save it? If both insects and fungi have it, tho, probably too late. My condolences...

#3 Retriever on 2010-10-23 12:31 (Reply)

i've had oaks seem to die and yet come back --a severe pruning can't hurt now --leave some leafability for Spring o course --

#4 buddy larsen on 2010-10-23 19:51 (Reply)

Oh joy. One of the fencerows at the Seppofarm consists of elms, ash, a single linden, and a beech. The elms died and shed their bark over the past four years, the ash are now stricken by the ash borers and all are looking grim. The linden is healthy, it appears, and so far so good with the beech. I hope it avoids the sad fate of yours.

#5 Seppo on 2010-10-23 19:55 (Reply)

We just had a 60 year old pin oak taken down. I cried!! There's a space in my heart and yard where it was.

#6 Carol on 2010-10-23 20:19 (Reply)

Trees are wildly evolved. Dumbbell shaped, as big underground as overground, root capillaries blending to earth at cellular level, solar collectors on swivels in phased arrays accepting/rejecting energy as needed thru every diurnal cycle --spectacular engineering. And so friendly --always, anytime you need repose, some shade, they wood love to give it to you, and otherwise they always leaf you alone.

#7 buddy larsen on 2010-10-23 22:15 (Reply)

Yet, they all die - here in Colorado we are losing whole mountains of pine to the Pine Beetle - but is part of the balance - in less than a decade, these decimated areas will be verdant meadows - better for the elk and such. And, in time, aspen then conifers.
Damned hard to watch, as the weaker trees are taken down by predators. Our huge, ancient cottonwoods are on their last legs - our lives will change dramatically when we have to take them down.
Friends, plant another tree or two now for others to enjoy. Your labors will be treasured in the future.

#8 milabro on 2010-10-24 13:03 (Reply)

amen --do it, and finish the weekend worked out, Vitamin D loaded, and knowing you did a good thing.
Or, go to Vegas and finish the weekend alcohol poisoned and broke.

#8.1 buddy larsen on 2010-10-24 17:51 (Reply)

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Saturday, October 23. 2010

"I have a fatal disease" says my Beech Tree