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Holy bush fungus

marcboormanmarcboorman Posts: 2
in Problem solving
Could someone please help me identify this fungus. Im normally pretty religious at using pruning balm and sealer but it appears this fungus has taken hold and is on the north side of the trunk. At first I thought it was Powdery Mildew, but now not so sure as its spreading like crazy.

Thanks for the help. 

Marc 



Marc

Posts

  • marcboormanmarcboorman Posts: 2
    Any help appreciated. I'm in two minds to remove it incase its contagious. 

    Marc
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    edited May 2020
    Hi Marc, in the area I've outlined in purple below, all of the bark has died (probably due to canker) and what you see is a fungus which has since started growing on surface of the exposed sapwood.  That fungus is not the cause of the canker.  The only living part of tree trunks and branches is a thin layer between the bark and wood (called the cambium) This layer has been killed by the canker and the bark has since fallen off.  There is absolutely nothing you can do to help the tree at this stage.  It may go on living for several years before the canker encircles the whole trunk at which point everything above will die.  If the leaves look healthy you could leave it be and see how many years it survives or could remove it now.  That decision is entirely up to you.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
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