Tree Fungus

[PHale]

:( We have four acres we treat as a yard. All of my trees on these 4 acres have a fungus of some sort. It makes gray splotches all over the trunks plus makes the wood on the trunk look like old skin. Is this treatable? Does anyone know what causes it? :(

[Kathe Kitchens]

What kind of trees are they? How old? What condition? Some trees' bark is supposed to look like "old skin' and some isn't. The grey splotches may or may not be anything to worry about. More information and we'll help you as best we can!
Kathe :D :wink:

[PHale]

There are peach, pecan, apple and fruitless mulberry and they all have the same stuff on the trunks.

[Kathe Kitchens]

First, research the various types and see which variety you have, and what type of bark is natural for them at their ages.

Second, is the "fungus" a discoloration? Is it beige? White? Red? Green? Grey? Could this be damage from a pesticide? Have you used weed & feed in the last few years? Was there a fire in the area in the last few years? Does your water source have a high salt content?


Some steps you can take to help the trees that won't hurt them, and only help them, regardless of their true malady:

1) Spray the trunks & branches with a solution of cornmeal soaked in water - referred to often here as "cornmeal juice".
2) Spray with a milk & water solution.
3)Spray with a baking soda or potassium bicarbonate solution.
4) Give the trees the sick tree treatment.

These steps will bring you closer to your goal of healthy trees.
Hope that helps! :D
Kathe

[khwoz]

The shade side of a tree will have a gray, splotchy appearance. This is normal. Sometimes it will be a green/gray color. Spraying the tree with the cornmeal juice can't hurt & the sick tree treatment will benefit the tree even if it is OK.

[PHale]

Thank you for your help. The trunks get white splotches on them first and then they start looking like old skin and they are then grey splotches with dark gray bark. I do really hard water. If it was just a certain type of tree I think I wouldn't be so worried but it is all of my trees. It even happened to my Crepe Myrtle. I have just planted 3 Chinese P (can't spell it), 1 lace elm, 8 Leyland Cypress and 1 Bald Cypress. I don't want the same thing to happen to them.

I don't think it is the soil because these trees are planted all over 4 acres. It is starting to happen to my pecan which I dearly love.

I have only used organice fertilizers the last 2 years and it wasn't happening before that.

[khwoz]

Hard to give suggestions without seeing trees. If this really concerns you, do the sick tree treatment & cornmeal juice (or garlic juice). The recipes are on the home page.