Cedar Elm

[Yellowdog]

I have noticed large cedar elm thickets here in s. central Texas where all of the trees are dead. Most of the trees in the group seem to have died at about 4-6 inches, however, on the same property, about 1/8 mile away, large 20+ inch trees are dead or dying from the top down. The inside of the wood on some of the trees that are still alive appears very "punky", that is, it looks and feels like a punk used to light a firecracker. I have seen similiar die off's on spanish oaks, however, the entire tree did not die as is the case with the cedar elms. Any thoughts on cedar elm diseases? I read that they are indeed susceptible to dutch elm disease. What should I look for?

 

[TREETX]

There actually is Dutch Elm disease in TX. I have heard rumors of it in the Kerrville area in the past. This info is not share with the arborist community and publications as TFS is horrid about passing on any info except the oak wilt 101 manual.

I have notice a fungus (hypoxylon spp.) that kills cedar elms. What I always notice on them before they die is a black "crust" around the base of the treee and a really sparse crown.

Pathology on dead trees can be difficult as it can be hard to separate decomposers from those actually killing trees.

Cedar elm look great in the spring but commonly get spidermites in late summer which turns them a dusty brown. That coupled with drought can be a real stress on cedar elms.

I have never worked with DED. You may want to call Mark Duff at TFS in Kerrville and he can probably send you in the right direction.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Not too familiar with cedar elm, but understand that it is a riparian species. Could drought/water table issues be the problem here?

We are so quick to jump at the biotic answer, when often it is the abiotic environmental issue that is the root of the problem.

 

[TREETX]

JPS nailed it. It is a reprarian species that commonly volunteers and grows on non-reprarian sites. Take drought / water stresses as the primary agent. Hypoxylon is just a secondary agent.