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Help with coral spot on mature acer

paulwrangle99991GyhIGEtpaulwrangle99991GyhIGEt Posts: 20
in Problem solving
Hi,

I have the following acer tree.

pictures below.

a large limb snapped off in the summer and I cut it back to the collar. Not the correct time I know but felt it better than leaving a rough snapped branch break.

i went to check it out this November and noticed breaking bark lower down from the cut and coral spot around the discoloured, breaking bark.

its a major limb so don’t really want to remove it below the infection but also want to stop the tree dying completely. Does anybody have an experience or advice on what to do? Will it survive if left? Can I treat it without removing basically half the tree below the infection?

Any advice would be appreciated. I am hoping it won’t be fatal as it’s a wonderful tree.
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Posts

  • paulwrangle99991GyhIGEtpaulwrangle99991GyhIGEt Posts: 20
    I can’t add a photo unfortunately. But advice please 
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    Personally I would remove any branch with Coral Spot, it spreads quite rapidly.
    One reason for pics not uploading is size, I keep them below 2 MB to post here


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    It was my understanding that the coral spots formed on dead wood so you would have to cut below them to stop it spreading any further. This does mean that any material above the infection will be lost as well but as the wood is already dead below it wouldn't survive anyway. That is assuming it's affecting the whole circumference of the branch but I don't know of you can treat it if it's just a small area.  
  • paulwrangle99991GyhIGEtpaulwrangle99991GyhIGEt Posts: 20
    Ok

    here are pics, you can see it’s a major limb… almost half the tree:

    https://www.gardeninghelp.uk/applications/core/interface/file/attachment.php?id=95&key=348e54032658c7e8b41d8477be16d9c3

  • paulwrangle99991GyhIGEtpaulwrangle99991GyhIGEt Posts: 20

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    There's more wrong there than the area of Coral Spot, all that darker area is in trouble. That tie doesn't look as though it's constricting but have you checked that? Anything of that size shouldn't still need staking, it should be root-firm by now. The damage does appear to start at the tie, is it nailed in or is that an illusion. That branch should go, either to the base or where it leaves another branch. Never leave stub ends, they will die back and allow the rot to set in. 2nd photo has a stub end from the fork. 


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • paulwrangle99991GyhIGEtpaulwrangle99991GyhIGEt Posts: 20
    Yes, the stake tie is nailed in. This was not me who did that. I simply pruned back the snapped branch to the point of origin after it had snapped. The stub is actually a union if you look closely… and a leader. 
  • paulwrangle99991GyhIGEtpaulwrangle99991GyhIGEt Posts: 20
    Here is a clearer pic
  • paulwrangle99991GyhIGEtpaulwrangle99991GyhIGEt Posts: 20

  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    This is tricky,  the first thing I would do is remove the tie and get that nail out. I can fully understand your reluctance to take that whole piece out as it is more than half the tree. At the gardens where I volunteer  there is a twin stemmed Acer, we had to take one right off yesterday as it was riddled with a fungal infection.  It looks bad now but hopefully will save the rest. 
    With yours having removed the tie etc,  maybe wait and see if it leafs up in spring. If not you will have no option. 
    AB Still learning

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