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What is this white gum like growth on my maple bark?

bmcgov99ZttarFb9bmcgov99ZttarFb9 Posts: 4
in Problem solving
I have a large 40 foot tall maple that once had 3 trunks but one was cut a few years ago. Just recently this white spongy stuff suddenly appeared on the bark of the but trunk. It's soft but also tough. Sort of like gum. Is this a concern? I'm worried about the rest of the tree. It is only on the cut trunk's bark not the other 2 trunks of the living portion of the tree but I'm worried it is a disease that will effect the rest of the tree if not my other nearby maples.  





Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    It's a fungus which is feeding on the dead branch, which has died becuase it wasn't cut back to a sideshoot or completely back to the base in the past.  These types of fungi don't infect living wood, but will continue to eat into the heart wood at the base, so best cut that dead branch back completely to its base.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    Hello, welcome to the forum.   :)

    Are you in UK?  We tend not to have 40 foot maples so I guess you might be based in the US?  I ask because I think this is a wood-rotting fungus, attacking the dead part of your tree.  But I don't recognise it, so it may be specific to the area you live. 


    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • bmcgov99ZttarFb9bmcgov99ZttarFb9 Posts: 4
    Yes, this is in the US (New Jersey).  I'm new to New Jersey too so am still trying to learn more about this garden state.  I was very worried this was a disease that could ultimately kill the healthy tree!  Very concerned.   
  • bmcgov99ZttarFb9bmcgov99ZttarFb9 Posts: 4
    Hello BobtheGardner,  could cutting this to base be safe enough and what time of the year/season is best to do that?

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Sorry, missed your post.  You can cut back as soon as the tree goes dormant and has dropped its leaves.  After cutting the dead branch right back, check if the wood below is soft or hard.  If the wood below the cut is hard then you probably have nothing more to worry about, but inspect annually.  If the wood is soft, it has rotted and if you think the rotten area goes very far into the base of the trunk (which gives the tree it's strength) it would be worth getting a local tree surgeon to assess the future safety.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • bmcgov99ZttarFb9bmcgov99ZttarFb9 Posts: 4
    Thank you Bob!  Will do!
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