Loquat tree losing bark and leaves

Trusa

I was asked to look at a Loquat tree today, the owner was quite distressed about the loss of bark from the tree and the fact that the tree was losing leaves.

There was no evidence of any insects at the time of inspection, the owner had not seen this behaviour before (4 years in residence) and I am not at all familiar with loquats.

Anybody have any clues??

Photos to follow.

Thank you!

Ben

Trusa

http://i99.???????????.com/albums/l2...t/P1050233.jpg
http://i99.???????????.com/albums/l2...t/P1050232.jpg
http://i99.???????????.com/albums/l2...t/P1050237.jpg
http://i99.???????????.com/albums/l2...t/P1050231.jpg
http://i99.???????????.com/albums/l2...t/P1050236.jpg
http://i99.???????????.com/albums/l2...t/P1050229.jpg

Sorry about the links, posting pics must be different here.

Thank you,

Ben

Darrell Mcleod

How to post a pictures etc

How to post| add a picture or file| embed picture

Paul Toivonen

Drought effected maybe?
I know the shed leaves and bark seasonally but not that much.
They are a hardy tree, it could even be waterlogging at the roots.

Trusa

Apologies for the picture links. Long week and I haven't been on here for a while.

Pictures attached.

Soil was not excessively wet or dry, owner had been there 4 years and had no tales of anything suspect taking place there. I will be returning sunday with a soil pH kit and to take soil sample.

Comments appreciated.

Attached Thumbnails

         

Paul Toivonen

Beautiful colour the bark has when they shed isnt it?
What is happening is the trunk is thickening; The bark has to "stretch" somehow.
Eucs do this a lot.
Note how it is usually at the base of the tree.
Come to think, most trees shed their bark some more pretty than others.
That is why Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) is one of my favorites.
The leaves make good compost, worms love it.

Trusa

You know when u think the obvious then don't say it??!! I've never seen one of these trees before but of course that's what it is. Thank you and yes they are a brilliant colour.

On my bike then..............

Eric Frei

The grey gums are putting on a great show this year with beautiful salmon coloured bark beneath the shedding strips of old grey bark.

Some trees shed it in strips, others in little bits and pieces and some in checkered little patterns that even some consulting arborists misdiagnose as a defect!

This is the checkered shedding of bark on the ficus virens at Chinderah Tavern, note that it is predominant where wood is most actively growing, that is what trees do, give priority to certain spots that need more strength.... out with the old and in with the new.

Attached Thumbnails

   

__________________

Alex Metzler

, very interesting colors indeed, puttin on a lil girth eh?, the splitting and checking is a beautiful sight, a response to xylem growth due to earlywood & latewood production. amazing how the cambium layer swells and forces the bark to react and become furrowed and break appart, cambial phenology.
the affect is more rapid when the tree taps into a good water source.

Eric Frei

This is a grey gum, the old grey bark sheds revealing the salmon coloured new.

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________