Borers attacking Kurrajong

billyhitups · 9th November 2011, 05:11 AM

Please Help!
I have an old Kurrajong which is a major feature of our house, base is almost a metre wide at the bottom. It has been eaten out from inside by what I presume are borers for quite some time (maybe 20 years). There is a large lesion up the side of the trunk where soredust can be seen. I understand the borers are probably a secondary attacker and something else will probably be causing the problem. I have applied some native tree fertiliser around the root zone.
Wondering what else I can do? Photos can be added if it helps.
Thanks
Billy

Eric Frei · 9th November 2011, 06:52 AM

Get some pictures up, close ones, far ones etc.

billyhitups · 9th November 2011, 09:32 PM

Photos of the tree. It had years of the leaves being raked and taken away, and until recently, nothing put back.

Eric Frei · 9th November 2011, 09:38 PM

Poor tree!

I imagine original ground level was the drive and then the brick BS got built around the tree then it got filled with soil.

Lucky it hasn't fallen over yet of that's the case.

Other threads on grade changes.

Soil Aeration Experiments| Grade Changes| Compaction| Decompaction

200mm boxed grade change| Araucaria columnaris

Tree Damaged By Wind Storm

Queensland Summer 2010 Heavy Rains Coming

Unhealthy melaleuca leucadendra (broad leaf paperbark)

Redwood is turning brown at top

Pin oak

Young Maple with no leaves on top 1/3 of tree

You really need to have that tree checked, a root crown investigation and wall thickness test. The borers are working the cavity, the tree is being eaten from inside to outside. There's reaction wood and signs of cankers all over it.

Darrell Mcleod · 9th November 2011, 10:18 PM

What a beautiful tree

Would get someone well qualified to come in and have a good look at it

billyhitups · 10th November 2011, 08:56 PM

Thank you for your help
I will get an arborist to help - there is not one listed within 2 hours drive from me, which makes it expensive. But, it needs to be looked at by a professional, for safety reasons, let alone prolonging the life of the tree.
Again, thanks for your help
Regards
Billy

9th November 2011, 05:11 AM	#1
billyhitups I'm new here so be nice Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Orange Posts: 3	Borers attacking Kurrajong Please Help! I have an old Kurrajong which is a major feature of our house, base is almost a metre wide at the bottom. It has been eaten out from inside by what I presume are borers for quite some time (maybe 20 years). There is a large lesion up the side of the trunk where soredust can be seen. I understand the borers are probably a secondary attacker and something else will probably be causing the problem. I have applied some native tree fertiliser around the root zone. Wondering what else I can do? Photos can be added if it helps. Thanks Billy

9th November 2011, 06:52 AM	#2
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,990	Re: Borers attacking Kurrajong Get some pictures up, close ones, far ones etc. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

9th November 2011, 09:32 PM	#3
billyhitups I'm new here so be nice Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Orange Posts: 3	Re: Borers attacking Kurrajong Photos of the tree. It had years of the leaves being raked and taken away, and until recently, nothing put back. Attached Thumbnails

9th November 2011, 09:38 PM	#4
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,990	Re: Borers attacking Kurrajong Poor tree! I imagine original ground level was the drive and then the brick BS got built around the tree then it got filled with soil. Lucky it hasn't fallen over yet of that's the case. Other threads on grade changes. Soil Aeration Experiments\| Grade Changes\| Compaction\| Decompaction 200mm boxed grade change\| Araucaria columnaris Tree Damaged By Wind Storm Queensland Summer 2010 Heavy Rains Coming Unhealthy melaleuca leucadendra (broad leaf paperbark) Redwood is turning brown at top Pin oak Young Maple with no leaves on top 1/3 of tree You really need to have that tree checked, a root crown investigation and wall thickness test. The borers are working the cavity, the tree is being eaten from inside to outside. There's reaction wood and signs of cankers all over it. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

9th November 2011, 10:18 PM	#5
Darrell Mcleod Mature tree Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Victoria Australia Posts: 242	Re: Borers attacking Kurrajong What a beautiful tree Would get someone well qualified to come in and have a good look at it

10th November 2011, 08:56 PM	#6
billyhitups I'm new here so be nice Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Orange Posts: 3	Re: Borers attacking Kurrajong Thank you for your help I will get an arborist to help - there is not one listed within 2 hours drive from me, which makes it expensive. But, it needs to be looked at by a professional, for safety reasons, let alone prolonging the life of the tree. Again, thanks for your help Regards Billy

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