NickfromWI
King of Splices
Clients neighbor had these weird spots. They sent these pics. Anyone seen this before?
love
nick
love
nick
Wet looking spots on liquidambar
- Thread starter NickfromWI
- Start date
- Replies 15
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Szajer
alive with pleasure
Great Dane?
CurSedVoyce
California Hillbilly
Slim flux?
Some one gaff that tree?
Some one gaff that tree?
Adam_P
TreeHouse WebMaster
They're certainly spaced about right. That'd be my guess too.
woodworkingboy
TreeHouser
Bleeding Canker or Necrosis, is my guess. The species is prone to it. Sometimes described as motor oil like looking spots with a redder brown color more inside the bark. Sometimes the areas are sunken. Is there an unpleasant sweet smell? Fungal disease, with no chemical treatment. A bad case will kill the tree. http://www.elementtreecare.co.uk/tree-diseases-bleeding-canker.php
Steve Mack
Life Member.
I see it a bit there's quite a lot around here, some sort of borer if the bark is loose. We don't have this one but it could be what you have, polyphagous shothole borer http://ceventura.ucanr.edu/?blogtag=Fusarium&blogasset=19305
woodworkingboy
TreeHouser
I might not be so sure, but the fungi really likes Liquidambar.
treelooker
Treehouser
mmm i dunno, pics are too small to zoom in much. The biggest blotch looks like it has a hole at the top, indicating insect. But the others look like lesions.
Seeing that hose at the base and suspecting sgr/deep planting indicates phytophthora; VERY treatable. Attached has my protocol fwiw.
Seeing that hose at the base and suspecting sgr/deep planting indicates phytophthora; VERY treatable. Attached has my protocol fwiw.
woodworkingboy
TreeHouser
The canker is also a result of stress to the tree, too deep planting or other irregularities. The brownish coloration at the sunken areas in Nick's photo is also an indicator. Good to consider species susceptibility.
lemontree
Treehouser
Adding to this post from many years ago. I’m going through something similar with black spots on my liquidambar. As you can see from the pictures, the black spots are moving up the trunk, and we are concerned that they will soon take over the tree. Curious if the original poster has any updates from that tree?
We are almost certain that the spots are a result of root damage and soil compaction from construction that we recently had done near the tree. There used to be a brick pathway next to the tree, and we had that pathway removed and replaced with concrete. A small retaining wall was built 8 feet away from the trunk as well. Construction workers probably cut a few roots in the process unfortunately.
First picture was taken in August, and the most recent one a few days ago. We had a few arborists come out back in September, and both said that all we can do is add mulch around the tree and see what happens. There used to be grass on one side of the tree, and they think that in addition to construction work, the lack of water during the many months of construction may have caused additional stress to the tree. There was some crown dieback, and leaves turned a little early this year, but other than that and the ugly spots, the tree looks relatively healthy. We would hate to lose the tree, so any advice would be appreciated.
We are almost certain that the spots are a result of root damage and soil compaction from construction that we recently had done near the tree. There used to be a brick pathway next to the tree, and we had that pathway removed and replaced with concrete. A small retaining wall was built 8 feet away from the trunk as well. Construction workers probably cut a few roots in the process unfortunately.
First picture was taken in August, and the most recent one a few days ago. We had a few arborists come out back in September, and both said that all we can do is add mulch around the tree and see what happens. There used to be grass on one side of the tree, and they think that in addition to construction work, the lack of water during the many months of construction may have caused additional stress to the tree. There was some crown dieback, and leaves turned a little early this year, but other than that and the ugly spots, the tree looks relatively healthy. We would hate to lose the tree, so any advice would be appreciated.
Jonny
Treehouser
These arborists that you had look at it, are they in the business of pesticide or fungicide application? If not, I’d get a consult from and arborist that really specializes in PHC.
lemontree
Treehouser
Good question. They did not bring up any pesticide or fungicide options. Do you have any topical recommendations based on the photos?
SeanKroll
Treehouser
Root collar excavation/ stem-girdling root investigation and treatment.
It's too deep in soil.
Mulch 1-hand width deep with wood chips, with a 1-hand wide gap at the trunk ( once you find the root collar).
Deep root irrigation needle for watering.
Pic of retaining wall. How much soil was added or taken away?
It's multifactorial.
Lots claim to be arborists. Some lay-people think it's the politically-correct name for the tree-cutter-guy.
Last night I heard about an arborist dumping a tree on a power line.
There is no "studying care of trees" when killing trees or removing dead trees... That's a service an arborist may or may not perform.
I do lots of killing of dying trees...sometimes arborist training is the knowledge-base I rely on to indicate to the client their tree is dying or higher risk, and why... But no care and study of trees is involved in removal, which is the basis of many tree service companies work.
I know a two local Certified- Arborists with loaders, big chippers, big chip trucks. These tools are for large tree demolition. I think they are likely going to keep demolishing big trees, as cable-and-brace support systems and soil drenching with fungicides doesn't make the payment on an 18" chipper and big trucks.
It's too deep in soil.
Mulch 1-hand width deep with wood chips, with a 1-hand wide gap at the trunk ( once you find the root collar).
Deep root irrigation needle for watering.
Pic of retaining wall. How much soil was added or taken away?
It's multifactorial.
Lots claim to be arborists. Some lay-people think it's the politically-correct name for the tree-cutter-guy.
Last night I heard about an arborist dumping a tree on a power line.
There is no "studying care of trees" when killing trees or removing dead trees... That's a service an arborist may or may not perform.
I do lots of killing of dying trees...sometimes arborist training is the knowledge-base I rely on to indicate to the client their tree is dying or higher risk, and why... But no care and study of trees is involved in removal, which is the basis of many tree service companies work.
I know a two local Certified- Arborists with loaders, big chippers, big chip trucks. These tools are for large tree demolition. I think they are likely going to keep demolishing big trees, as cable-and-brace support systems and soil drenching with fungicides doesn't make the payment on an 18" chipper and big trucks.
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