Just noticed this on my weeping crab

Jennifer, it looks like a fungal infection as a result of damage. I had a redbud that got bumped by the lawnmower and had a tiny (according to my husband) nick in the trunk. The tree did not survive.

It may be what is called apple scab...

https://ask.extension.org/ques...


You may want to e-mail or call and speak with your county agent/co-operative extensive service. Good Luck.

I'm totally not in love with the tree. So it can go.

Thank you for the reply

All righty then...problem solved...

I also think it is a fungus of some kind. You should research before planting another tree in that same area after this one is removed. I understand some fungus is IN the soil, so it will affect a new planted tree in the same area there.

Frillylily said:I also think it is a fungus of some kind. You should research before planting another tree in that same area after this one is removed. I understand some fungus is IN the soil, so it will affect a new planted tree in the same area there.

I thought of that. Too bad too because I would love to plant one of my dappled willow experiments there.

I had a willow once that had a fungus shortly after I planted it (1 yr later) and I had to take it out.
You may be able to have your soil tested to see what it is for sure and if there are trees that will not be bothered by it. It may only affect certain kinds of trees, I don't know.

I will consult an expert.

I would call an expert, too but I'm fairly certain an injury occured to the tree first. Crabapples are pretty once a year and I'm not a fan of them, either.

Fungus does frequently follow a wound of some sort which I suppose either 1. allows the tree to succumb to fungus present in the soil as it is weakened. or 2. allows fungus to enter the tree through the wound itself. Again I would think there are different kinds. IF it is the result of a wound, it may not affect the soil and planting another tree there would be ok. But again you wouldn't really know without some way of testing the soil first. Crabapples can be really pretty trees, but many people do not prune them properly and they look like a bush on a stick and are too low to the ground ect. The variety can make a huge difference as well. I have a crab apple that has small berry-like gold colored fruits and they stay on most of the winter. It is very attractive. I do have one in my front yard that has purple foliage year round and it is really nice. They like water, so in drier areas, they may tend to look not as nice during the hotter months. They are nice trees for town yards because they do not overwhelm smaller yards. Suitable subs are dogwood, redbud, other fruit trees, ornamental fruit trees such as cherries, or holly. of course if space is not a problem you can plant anything as long as the soil is ok.

It looks like a fairly old tree, too. Is it?

Down here, the worldwide center for fungus of every type, we do what we call "soil solarization" that basically bakes the soil using the sun to eliminate soil-borne disease, as well as weeds and nematodes (which we have here, but you don't).

If you start soon, you can utilize the hottest sun of the season. After you remove the tree just till the soil a bit, water well and spread clear plastic over it, weighted on the edges so it is sealed to eliminate air flow. Let it 'bake' for a few weeks and it should be completely useable again. Till in some good compost before you plant though, as the natural microorganisms are pretty depleted by this process.

dyzzypyxxy said: Let it 'bake' for a few weeks and it should be completely useable again. Till in some good compost before you plant though, as the natural microorganisms are pretty depleted by this process.

I think I will wait until winter and use the Michigan method of freezing it out

I probably can't get my husband to get to cut this down until fall. He just took out an ornamental Cherry the was utterly infested with carpenter ants. I try to limit the projects I ask of him

Zencat said:It looks like a fairly old tree, too. Is it?

I am not sure because it was here when we moved in 4 years ago. But it likely is "original". It really is not very attractive, well at least to me.

I'm not an expert, but that looks like a heart rot, these generally only affect the heartwood, which is technically dead already, but doesn't usually rot thanks to compartmentalization.
Trees can live with heart rot for YEARS! It can and often does lead to the dimise of tree, but that doesn't mean it needs to be removed immediately, especially if the tree is not threatening a structure.

Many, many old trees conceal heart rot very well, often the wound that allows the fungus in will be high up in the branches, and goes unnoticed, I've seen many old trees that have actually survived the heart rot, all the heartwood will rot away, leaving no food for the fungus, at that point the tree will often heal itself from the inside and go right in growing.

It's also a natural cycle, the various fungi that may consume that tree will likely improve your soil, it may( or may not) cause your tree to look unattractive, but it's not doomed.

I hate to see trees chopped.

Thank you for the info Swayback! I am sorry to make you sad that I want to remove the tree. But I have several new trees in pots and this is in a spot I would love to see several of them.

Could it be bacterial "wetwood" aka "slime flux"?

http://www.mortonarb.org/trees...
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/kpn/kpn_...
http://www.missouribotanicalga...

Could that tree have been planted too deep by previous owners? I can't quite see any root flare. Sometimes that can cause problems or contribute to other problems.

I don't think it is too deep. Maybe it was root injured when I planted ajuga around it

I'm not an expert, but that looks like a heart rot, these generally only affect the heartwood, which is technically dead already, but doesn't usually rot thanks to compartmentalization.
Trees can live with heart rot for YEARS! It can and often does lead to the dimise of tree, but that doesn't mean it needs to be removed immediately, especially if the tree is not threatening a structure.

Many, many old trees conceal heart rot very well, often the wound that allows the fungus in will be high up in the branches, and goes unnoticed, I've seen many old trees that have actually survived the heart rot, all the heartwood will rot away, leaving no food for the fungus, at that point the tree will often heal itself from the inside and go right in growing.

It's also a natural cycle, the various fungi that may consume that tree will likely improve your soil, it may( or may not) cause your tree to look unattractive, but it's be doomed.

I hate to see trees chopped.