Articles
Mature ash fails due to butt rot.
A big ash with a full, healthy-looking crown came down at the base. Most of its stem had been decayed for years.
During a spell of stormy weather in the Lakes, I was called to a tree failure in a park. A large mature ash had failed at its base, the butt, and was left leaning on its branches about six feet off the ground.
It had fallen at the edge of the park, in an area that is not used much apart from local dog walkers. That was lucky. The outcome could have been much worse.
What was inside
When I inspected the stem, between 85% and 90% of it was decayed, leaving only 10% to 15% of sound wood. Yet the tree had a full crown with very little dead wood, so there was little to warn anyone from a distance.
Judging from the girth of the stem, I estimated the decay had been there for around ten years. Over that time the tree could no longer put on enough new growth to make up for the weakness the decay caused, until one day it simply gave way.
What it shows
This is a good example of a failure that a routine tree survey would very likely have picked up. A full crown can hide a stem that has little left in it. Where a tree stands near a path, road, building or play area, it is worth having its base looked at by someone who knows what to look for.
Related: Why have a tree survey? · Beech blows over
Tell us about the trees.
Call or email with the site and the question. We will tell you what is needed and what it will cost.