Monterrey Oak bark peeling

[Austex]

I live in Cedar Park, TX. The past two winters has seen very harsh winters, and then this past summer there was terrible drought. The crown of my tree finally looks better, with new healthy leaves, but I noticed some bark loose. As I started peeling back the loose bark, a much bigger problem was discovered. I also noticed bark loose around an old prune site and peeled it back as well. I'm concerned that the whitish stuff may be fungus.

What can I do about this? Is this something I can treat myself, should I get an arborist, or is it likely to die no matter what?

 

[Treeaddict]

I’ve only been working on trees for a year but there is definitely fungal decay in the sapwood (outer layer of tree - under bark) and it looks like it’s also into the heartwood (inner core) as well. I do know if there’s a way to arrest the decay but there’s some intelligent folks on here who know a whole lot more than me.

 

[Treeaddict]

Also, can you take a few pictures of the tree from afar?

 

[Austex]

Thanks, here are some additional pictures.

 

[Rusticus]

I'm a couple hours west of you, and after that reallly hard freeze last year, we saw a lot of freeze cracks in our Monterreys. It's hard to see the scale, but there's probably more going on than just that, but a likely contributor with that white fungus in the furrows. That seemed to be on every one we had an issue with.

 

[KTSmith]

All sorts of decay fungi could present themselves as in the photos, but when I see the images I think Stereum gausapatum or Stereum hirsutum, depending on whether the thallus "bleeds" when scratched (the former) or is hairy (the latter). In the good news / bad news department, whether it is one of those two or some other species, it would likely be classed as a decomposer rather than a pathogen (neither are in Luley's new book). So that means to me that there is that there is a good volume of dead wood there, supporting fungal growth. All associated with a major wound to the stem. I think I see a good woundwood response, which is a plus.

 

[Austex]

Thanks for the responses. Any idea how to best treat it? I have already removed the loose bark and trimmed the edges to allow for good drainage and healing. I also brushed out all debris.

There are some tiny holes in the heartwood. I have ordered some systemic pesticide granules (imadacloprid). Should I get a fungicide? Which one? How about a topical treatment to put on the wound like neem or horticultural oil?

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Vicente]

Thanks for the responses. Any idea how to best treat it? I have already removed the loose bark and trimmed the edges to allow for good drainage and healing. I also brushed out all debris.

There are some tiny holes in the heartwood. I have ordered some systemic pesticide granules (imadacloprid). Should I get a fungicide? Which one? How about a topical treatment to put on the wound like neem or horticultural oil?

Any advice is appreciated.

We have a client with a similar looking thing going on on a couple trees, we cleaned off the loose bark and sprayed it with a systemic fungicide, and did a water in treatment with the fungicide twice in about a 4 month period earlier this year it seems to be responding well.

 

[Austex]

We have a client with a similar looking thing going on on a couple trees, we cleaned off the loose bark and sprayed it with a systemic fungicide, and did a water in treatment with the fungicide twice in about a 4 month period earlier this year it seems to be responding well.

Awesome! Can you tell me which product?

 

[Vicente]

Awesome! Can you tell me which product?

I don't remember it off hand I think the bottle is still in my shop I'll take a look and see, I got it from green acres it was sold for fruit and nut trees.

 

[Neill]

My opinion,
I would suggest not throwing a slew of chemicals at this tree. It suffered some kind of frost or mechanical damage and is doing it’s best to seal it off and continue living. no amount of pesticides will make the current damage go away.
The best you can do in my opinion is to keep it going in other ways. Ensure it has a good mulch ring out to its drip line yet off the trunk to improve soil moisture. Water deeply in times of severe drought. If your committed to trying to keep this tree around- get a qualified arborist to inspect and consider reduction pruning in the future to mitigate its size because that decay column will always be present and will be a weakness that could cause failure n the future
Save your money for a removal and replacement….