Tree and disease identification

pistol pete · Jul 29, 2005

Hello all
I need help identifying this tree and possibly the diagnosis to its problem. The tree is located in central Oklahoma on a hilltop among blackjack oaks. I tried to identify it myself with my field guide and came up with several possible trees, the blue jack oak, live oak, sweet leaf and several evergreens. The tree has two spots on the lower trunk that seem to have had the bark rubbed off, but there is nothing nearby to rub on them. There is also evidence that the tree is compartmentalizing the wounds, so I assume this has been going on for some time. There are several small dead spots on the outer tips of the limbs, throughout the canopy. I am currently studying to become ISA certified in September, but I am still a newcomer to the tree business and have a limited knowledge on tree identification. If anyone can help me to identify this tree and how to treat it please let me know. (pictures are included of the wounds ,bark, and leaves)

treeseer · Jul 29, 2005

I can't ID from here; how about a better closeup of the leaves?
Flowers? Fruit? Nuts?
pm that okie supply guy?

The wounds are just from mechanical abrasions, and yes they are callusing. All I'd do w them is trim away the dead bark; careful not to nick the live bark.

What are you being asked to do with this tree? Who owns it?

Treeman14 · Jul 29, 2005

It appears to be some kind of bay tree. The wounds look like "bulldozer blight." Is this a new home? I didn't see any root flare in the pic of the trunk. Has there been any fill dirt added recently? That may explain the dead tips. If so, remedial action needs to be taken ASAP to save this tree.

pistol pete · Jul 29, 2005

thanks for the help

The owner has asked me to diagnose and treat this tree and take out the dead wood. He is an older man perhaps in his late 80's but seems to have it all together. I did not ask but I assume the house has been there 20 years and there are no signs of new construction. The gentleman told me that the wounds have occurred this season. As for bulldozer blight, I also assumed that they were caused by something mechanical when I saw the sore that was 6 inches from the ground. However the second wound is 5 feet off the ground and couldn't't be caused by anything street legal without causing damage to other parts of the tree. I was just curious if there was any other possible explanation for this. If there is not another solution, I can explain to the owner that I asked some of the best arborists in the country and all they could conclude was a mechanical culprit.
As for tree identification I think i may have discovered the species while on the job today. I drove by a persimmons that had the same bark structure, canopy and mature height, only with fruit. Perhaps the mystery tree could be a male persimmons, but do the males have any type of thorns? Again I thank you for any help and advice that can be offered.

treeseer · Jul 30, 2005

pistol pete said:
I assume the house has been there 20 years and there are no signs of new construction. The gentleman told me that the wounds have occurred this season. ....a persimmons that had the same bark structure, ... do the males have any type of thorns?

Wounds are much older than one year, judging by the growth of scar tissue. Maybe the client just noticed them, or some damaged bark just shed, exposing the wood.

Persimmons--search Diospyros virginiana-- here have very black bark, and the pattern is distinctly blocked, like a dogwood. Your pic #1 does not look like persimmon, even tho the leaves are close. They tend to single, not multi-trunk here, but OK being windier may train them to clumps. I've never seen a thorn on one.

First job on this tree is to Find the Flare! (best done on an hourly-fee basis)Brett's right that the lack of flare showing is a major issue, even if it was buried 20 years ago. Also yes any machine that got close enough to make those wounds did some damage to the roots.

John Paul Sanborn · Jul 30, 2005

With the woundwood formation, xylem damage and cracking, I have to agree that it is older then several months and mechanical damage

wound wood formation appears to have multiple layers, indicating repeated damage. Is the damage to the woundwood from oyur removal of bark?

How high off the ground are they? the pic with turf in the picture looks like it's from the deck of a riding mower.

If the operator runs around the tree with the discharge shute on the inside, many models will pput the blade tips into the tree.