Climbers Way Tree Care

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Why Honey Fungus Doesn’t Have to Mean the End for Your Tree

13th January 2020 By Climbersway

Nothing sends fear through a gardener like honey fungus. It’s a parasitic fungus, orangey brown in colour, that attacks and kills the roots of many trees. It’s one of the most destructive fungal diseases and no tree is completely immune!

Armillaria mellea also known as Honey Fungus
Armillaria mellea – a type of honey fungus

But just because your tree is infected it doesn’t mean it always needs to be removed.

First of all there are several different types of honey fungus and they all differ by how deadly they are. And secondly the vitality and vigour of the infected tree needs to be taken into account; Whilst an infected tree may well eventually succumb to the fungus it could take decades to happen.

And that’s why we didn’t have to remove this tree we were recently called out to.

A photo of the infected tree before a crown reduction
The tree before our work

It’s mature tree that has a honey fungus infection in the heartwood but is otherwise healthy. It’ll still be around for some time but its stability had been weakened by the infection.

And with children often playing below it the last thing we want is branches to fall off or the whole thing falling over.

In order to improve the stability of the tree we gave the tree a crown reduction. We reduced the overall spread of the canopy and thinned it out. This means there is a reduced weight load on each union which will help to prevent branches breaking off. And a smaller lighter canopy overall will reduce the weight load on the trunk and reduce wind sail.

A photo of the infected tree after a crown reduction
The tree after the crown reduction designed to improve stability

As an aside, did you know that the largest living thing on our planet is a single honey fungus? It lives in the Malheur National Forest in the Blue Mountains of Oregon, spans 3.4 square miles and is estimated to be 2,400 years old!

If you spot honey fungus on your trees make sure to consult an expert before making any decisions as every case is different. Get in touch with us and we will take a look at your tree and give it a full health assessment.

Filed Under: Case Studies, Trees

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About

Climbers Way Tree Care provide tree surgery and arboricultural services across the South of England, including Southampton, Winchester, Oxford, Guildford, Basingstoke, Chichester, Eastleigh, Salisbury, Romsey, Christchurch, Lymington, Lyndhurst, Brockenhurst, Beaulieu, Burley, Sway, Landford, Hythe and Waterside, and other parts of the New Forest.

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Southampton: 023 8036 1062
Winchester: 01962 280333
New Forest: 01590 730070
Basingstoke: 01256 268442
Chichester: 01243 964739
Salisbury: 01722 548059
Oxford: 01865 950493
Principal: 07541 563769
info@climberswaytreecare.co.uk

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