Check Your Trees

Check your trees for this dangerous fungus growth

Watch the Video to see how this Fungus has destroyed this magnificent tree from the inside out.

I recorded this back in December when we had a series of heavy storms throughout Sydney but I felt prompted to now send it out to our whole list.

I urge you to check your trees and if you find the same fungus (known as a fungal fruiting body called Ganoderma) , get it assessed by an Arborist as it could drop any time. It's a good idea to take photos of the fungus so you can show council as to why it is being cut down.

Remember what you can see from the outside is the tip of the iceberg. The main damage is hidden inside the tree and becomes very apparent when you cut one of these down. They also tend to drop heavy limbs when affected by the fungus so are a real risk of serious injury or death.

I hope this video prevents that from happening.
Thanks for taking the time to watch it. Feel free to share amongst friends.

Brian Chapman
Horticulturist and Gardening Presenter.

Updates: I've just heard from Rayne Kingston in Tassie
I have this same fungus in a huge gum tree on my property, above the house and workshop. I didn’t realise how dangerous it may be until I received your email! Thank you so much. I will be phoning professionals tomorrow to have it removed as soon as possible.

Thanks Brian,

regards Rayne Kingston

Im glad we sent the message out.

Tony Freeman wrote to me saying he has had the same thing.
It is also called Bracket Kreep Fungus.

Hornsby Council will give instant approval for removal if they see it. We had a tree out front when we lived in Westleigh (Sydney) and when it was identified Council came and inspected and issued an urgent removal notice.

It is like a cancer and as your video showed, it spreads through trunk and branches. The yellow soft wood Vs the hard red wood is a great way of showing what it is.

To make matters worse, our tree was through the overhead wires and right on the path for kids walking past us to the school gate 100 M away! We were lucky; it was caught in time and no one injured

The power planter would dig BIG holes in the soft wood.

Cheers

Tony Freeman

Shane from Baulkham Hills has been wondering about the fungus on his front tree for years!

Hi Brian, Thanks for that one. For years we had that fungus on the tree in the front yard and always thought it was the most bizarre thing ever. Now I have to make sure it is removed and the branch removed as well.
Cheers,

Shane

Lynn Sends her little story in. I like it. Neighbours stirring up trouble is not very Aussie in my books. Far better to focus on your own place and making it beautiful.

Hi Brian,

Thanks for sending me this. It makes me feel quite vindicated. We had 3 huge trees on this property when I bought it last June. They were within damaging distance of the house, and particularly of my bedroom. All had that fungus.

Lake Macquarie council refused my request to have them removed, so I risked it and went ahead anyway. A 'dear' neighbour reported me to the council and the ranger came. The arborist convinced him that they really were a danger, so, fortunately I didn't cop the $4k fine.

The trees were beautiful and I've felt a little guilt for having them removed, but now I just feel so relieved.

Thanks again,

Lynne Fairhall

Have you got trees affected by this fungus? Drop us a line and let me know.