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What's this in the middle of the tree trunk?
Artemis3
Posts: 751
When we moved here a huge ivy was growing through an old cherry tree. Last December we got a tree surgeon to prune the tree and remove as much of the ivy as possible. He cut chunks from the main stems of the ivy, which led to much of it dying.
Today I tried to remove the dead ivy, only to discover that the cherry tree, right in the centre of its trunk, has a large area of sponge like sandy bit, which must be a dead part of the tree.
I've never seen anything like it. Does this mean the tree is dying, or even worse, might be brought down by wind and rain?
I would be most grateful for your help and advice.
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Thank you very much, Pansyface. Unfortunately this central bit you can see is like sand, when you touch it it crumbles. It's not remotely like wood. It looks like a long, dry sponge and behaves like sand.
The cherry tree, which is probably over 70 years old, is perfectly alive but its affliction worries me. The fruit it produces is not that tasty but the birds eat it. And I like it, so I would like to save it.
I have seen hollowed out old trees in woods. Do you think this is something similar?
So, will the cherry tree survive?
That's hopeful. Thank you, Pansyface.
That's quite amazing, but mine would cause damage if it fell.
Might it be a "post" to which the tree was tied at some point in the distant past ?
Have you been to the 'Major Oak' in Sherwood Forest ? (Or what's left of the forest) ! The centre of this tree died out decades ago , but still alive and kicking , albeit held up now with supports .
Hi Hosta, it might indeed, if you think that's a possibility. Unfortunately I wasn't around 70 odd years ago.
Hi Paul, no I haven't seen this tree. It would seem, then, that it can survive, which is good news but I don't want it falling down!
Let's all hope it does survive, so fingers crossed, PLEASE!
Hi Artemis, so sorry to read about the state of your tree. It does look very odd. I've never seen anything like it either. However, judging by what those who know their stuff say, it might survive. Let's hope so!
I'm sorry to hear that your tree is looking not too great.
I do expect the hopeful comments, above, are right but I remember my father in law had 2 cherry trees that had something similar. It was called heartwood decay, I think. He discovered it when a storm brought one of them down. About 10 years later the same thing happened to the other tree. I think the condition was caused by fungi.
Hopefully this is not the case with your tree.