Whats eating my tree?

Twistedpoepoe

Can someone tell me whats eating my trees? I see lots of ants around it. How do I fix the problem.

Thanks!

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Eric Frei

I think you got an old tree that has internal decay and the rest of the bugs are making house in it just like those big bugs in the movie Avatar they had to get rid of in that big old tree.

Also looks like some bad pruning done in the past.

Often big old trees do hollow out inside.... and bad cuts do not help.

There was an intellectual debate about whether or not ants bored into trees, some recent research here however in the majority of cases I'd agree no.

Ants Are Friendly To Some Trees, But Not Others

The tree species also has a lot to do with it. Here our aging scribbly gums 99.9% of the time will hollow out and shed limbs, part of the reason they are prized habitat trees but not a wise choice for amenity trees with nearby targets.

How do you deal with internal decay?

Well, forget the silver bullet, just none around. There's a combination of things we can do but ultimately as far as anti fungal/decay resistance goes it's up to the tree to wall off the advancement of the decay. New wood grown is sometimes altered to be more resistant. So you need to ensure the tree has what it needs, good soil conditions, mulch etc. Do not fertilize though as trees will trade off defence for growth. To hold a tree in a state of balance is the key, over indulge with fertilizer and water and you will create an unsustainable flush of growth that will become the next bug banquet when the boom turns to bust. Put down soil conditioners, those seaweed style products, blood n' bone with a coarse mulch etc and the beneficial bugs and fungi will do their work.

As trees age and risk of failure in full or part increases some selective pruning goes on to stabilize the trees integrity, reduce large branches etc but try to keep cuts small and a little each year is better than one huge pruning session.

Why Trees Die| Mortality Life Cycle

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TreeSpecialist

Ekka?is right on once again. This tree has seen some terrible in pruning the past resulting in the decay you're seeing.

Do a google search for "compartmentalization of decay" to find out more but when flush cuts are made, rot generally follows.

Crown reduction pruning (done well) could help. Cabling might be a recommendation as well. From what I could see of the pictures posted, you may be in for some large limb failures in the near future.

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Twistedpoepoe

Well we just moved in on 6/1 and on 6/4 a storm came through and those pictures were taken from the limbs that fell onto the driveway almost hitting my car. Thank you for the info.

TreeSpecialist

You would be prudent to have the tree professionally checked right away.

With the tree over the drive, large limb failure can be rather costly. And it won't take a storm to do it. "Summer limb drop" season is upon us. This is when large limbs come flying out of trees with little or no weather related cause.

It's almost always due to previous bad pruning work or old wounds.

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Twistedpoepoe

Well I read the last responses too late. Yesterday a limb fell through the front windshield of my car. These ugly things were inside of it.

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Brent Ferris

These are just wood borers doing their job of consuming rotting wood and returning this part of the tree back to the equilibrium state we call Mother Nature.

You want to get someone in to assess the tree and the rot, and try and make the tree safe. Hopefully someone who cares more about trees than how big the paycheck is.

Twistedpoepoe

I will try to find someone Monday, Thanks!

TreeSpecialist

When evaluating the tree, consider what is at risk when the next limb falls. It is likely too dangerous a tree to leave in the environment.

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Twistedpoepoe

I trimmed off one of the limbs that had not been trimmed properly before. It was about 2 feet long. After I removed it a black beetle cam out of the tree portion. It was almost 2 inches long and 1/2 inch wide. How do i get rid of these? I saw something at Home depot that you pour around your tree and it is supposed to fertilize the tree and kill insects. Does this Work?

TreeSpecialist

Pictures always help.

Likely it was a longhorn borer. No amount of any chemcial is going to get to the borer or its larvae. The borer is working on dead or non conductive tissue. The insect is an indication of decay - not the cause of decay. Removal of the tree is still a prudent solution before it fails completely and wipes out more than your windshield next time.

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Twistedpoepoe

I have an estimate off 200 to fix the tree. The guy says he can save it. Here is a picture of a post squashed beetle.

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Eric Frei

Well, pictures of the completed $200 fix would be much appreciated.

Personally, I smell a rat.

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TreeSpecialist

$200 sound too cheap and is likely an unwise investment.

Ask to have his insurance agent send you an insurance certificate with you named as co-insured before beginning the work.

The certificate must come from the agent via the US mail to be legitimate.

No insurance? Then send him on his way.....

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Brent Ferris

$200 sounds pretty cheap. What is he going to remove for $200? Get another couple of estimates, and as Tree specialist recommends, ask for a copy of the insurance, or a phone number to call the agent.