Identifying a potentially concerning American elm infection

6 years ago

I believe they are American elms. Most of my elm trees are showing a yellow/gray bark sponginess spreading downward from cut branches. Some are darker than others. Only a few of them are actively oozing any liquid from cuts. Any idea what this may be, how concerned I should be, and what, if anything, I can do about it? The images are three different infection sites on three separate trees.

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Comments (3)

arbordave (SE MI)
6 years ago
Looks like "slime flux" aka wetwood. Generally not considered a serious problem.

http://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-and-plant-advice/help-diseases/wetwood

Also, your trees look like they're probably Siberian elms.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
if the ID is correct .. fast growing trees .. prone to problems due to said speed .. as well as weak wooded and breakage ... not to mention poor crotch angles ... [a perfect nightmare in ice storms]

regardless of what the cause was .. it looks like the interior wood has rotted.. and if so.. everything above.. on that branch can fall off ... sooner or later.. and who knows when that will be .. in tree time ...

the problem in the second pic.. is that IT LOOKS like the interior rot has gone down into the crotch ... so removal might be problematic .. as you might not be able to get into unrotted wood.. where the tree might actually heal over .. encapsulate ...

but the bottom line of all this.. you need an onsite inspection by a certified tree surgeon .. and that is not every dude with a chainsaw ... spend the money.. for the inspection.. and the peace of mind ...

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=ISA+certified+arborist&t=ffcm&ia=about

the only treatment for rot.. is removal of the rotted parts.. or potentially.. the whole tree ...

if you have space.. it might be time.. to plant some young new trees .. of just about any other kind [as long as its not marketed as fast growing] ..... so that if and when these have to go .. you will have new trees already settled in.. and growing ...

without knowing where you are.. i can not offer suggestions ...

ken
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Arborist Scottie AshTree seed
6 years ago
I agree with arbor Dave, that your examples bark looks like Siberian elm species. Except for leaves which almost look like Witch Elm because of unique "W" shape. Different types of elms are supposed to be able to crossbreed, so your tree might have that going for it. But Siberians suffer from cankers, and from wetwood which is normally only a visual problem. In any case regardless of living trees general health, structural wise it may never recover. Someone also suggested removal of dead wood, which I agree would be one option. We lost 80-100 old Siberian elms to extended drought few years back in our NE Illinois region. I am really a big fan of Siberian, but most produce a lot of deadwood which requires regular maintenance to remove. And at times, more dead wood caused by pruning event. Especially when vegetative management arborist contracted by utilities head back branches and limbs.

I live in a community named Elmwood park, where several examples of mature public Siberian elm trees stand tilted. Which I had learned was caused by past village workers using auger to dig out hole for new tree, but drilled too deep. Then tree inevitably settled oddly. Mulberries also iconic for production of abiotic wetwood, which protects damaged tissue usually found between rubbing attachments from outside organisms trying to enter. As long as wet wood flows, oxygenless environment maintained. Ironically after our big drought, some trees were cured from wetwood production. Old sap wood can also contain stored water within American Elms, that pours out when stem severed after felling. Which is also supposed to create oxygenless environment that protects inner core of tree. Retaining pockets of accumulated rainfall in rotting out parts is also supposed to be more beneficial than drilling hole to drain it.

Identifying a potentially concerning American elm infection

Comments (3)

arbordave (SE MI)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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