One of the clear signs of tree rot includes a steadily deteriorating tree. Heart rot disease is another tree rot term primarily due to fungal infection.
Here, we’ll provide you with all the relevant information or all there is to know about this tree condition.
Tree rot can be heartbreaking for many people when their favorite tree is affected. One of the realities of this tree disease is that it mainly infects mature trees.
This isn’t very pleasant considering all the effort to grow such trees.
Types of Tree Rots
Tree rot is a real problem that trees face.
This happens at various parts of the tree, including the roots. Now, the different types of tree rot include soft rot, brown rot, butt rot, root rot, sap rot, heart rot, and white rot.
READ: Scales on Trees
All these are tree decay conditions you’ll need to guard against if your trees are still safe. However, when fungal infection leading to rot happens, you’ll need to be able to identify the rot for better treatment.
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Soft Rot
This type of tree rot is primarily due to fungal and bacterial infection.
Lignin (the complex organic polymer deposited in cell walls for strength), cellulose, and hemicelluloses found in trees are broken down.
This process happens and spreads slowly and isn’t as damaging as other rot types. However, the rot could be extensive when the fungus Kreutschmaria data is involved.
Despite this rot not being as significant as other types, it doesn’t do your tree any good. This type of rot is most common in broadleaf trees.
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Brown Rot
This is a more severe type of tree rot caused by the Basidiomycotina fungi. This doesn’t apply here, unlike the situation in soft rot, where the lignin is affected.
In brown rot, fungi will act on cellulose and hemicelluloses by breaking them down.
This destructive action is seen in brittle wood and a discoloration (dark brown), hence the name brown rot. Your tree’s condition worsens tree signs to dry up. As it dries up, it slowly disintegrates into cutes.
Trees experiencing brown rot are structurally weak and are likely to readily give way under pressure as their structural integrity is badly affected.
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Butt Rot
In most cases, butt rot in trees moves from the root up the trunk.
It could also be due to injuries sustained on the trunk. Like most types of rots, butt rot acts slowly and steadily and steadily deteriorates trees.
This is visible in the tree’s appearance and requires that you call an expert for further probing.
As the name implies, this tree rot begins from and focuses on the root system.
There are several ways through which such rot comes about. Some courses include airborne or water-borne spores and actions such as root grafting on an infected tree.
This fungal infection significantly reduces the root’s ability to convey nutrients to trees.
This situation negatively impacts the tree.
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Sap Rot
Unlike most types of tree rot, sap rot is common with deadwood. They’re mainly located on dead parts when found on live trees.
Is this type of rot severe enough to cause structural failure? Not at all!
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Heart Rot
True to its name, heart rot is a type of decay that acts from within or the heartwood. The tree trunk is mainly the target and begins from an injury sustained by a tree.
Tree injuries are caused by several factors, such as insect activity, fires, pruning, and mechanical damage.
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White Rot
When white-rot sets in, the structural integrity of your tree is severely affected, it acts by breaking down the three main components that give every tree its structural strength (lignin, cellulose, and hemicelluloses).
You’re likely to see bulgYou’re parts of the tree or bark resulting from the weight exerted as the tree becomes spongy and fibrous.
Are There Treatments For Tree Rot?
One of the first things anyone will think about when they suspect a problem with their trees is to seek help.
Unfortunately, tree rot is a more severe condition that can hardly be remedied. Once in, fungal infections can scarcely be fixed as they damage a tree rapidly.
SEE: Dutch Elm Disease Treatment
In most cases, only their damaging activities are observed. This is after the fungal infection must have been present for a considerable period.
Your best bet at tackling tree rot will be to avoid or prevent it in the first place. This is the only way to keep your trees safe.
Signs of Tree Rot
Various signs reveal when a tree experiences rot.
These range from leaning trees, dead branches, mushroom-like growth on the trunk, splitting trunks in a “V” shape, and fine dust near its base.
The truth is, these signs aren’t a confirmation of tree rot.
Instead, they’ll require further probing to determine or identify the problem. These could be signs relating to other tree ailments.
Preventive Action Against Rot In Trees
Adopting preventive action is your best bet at controlling tree rot. You might want to begin by ensuring your trees are always healthy.
Some basic tasks to consider include mulching around the trees. The mulch material should be placed so that it doesn’t come into direct contact with the tree base or trunk.
Root growth can be enhanced by using fertilizers rich in phosphorus.
Also, trees are most vulnerable to fungal attacks when stressed. So, you’ll need to identify and eliminate whatever is likely to lead to stress.
These could include improper drainage or infestation by insects.
Pruning is also a critical maintenance activity and a preventive action against tree rot. This should be targeted at dead branches, and the cut area or wound be well-trimmed.
Tree rot is an actual condition that results in the death of a lot of trees.
The problem with this condition is that it can’t be treated. This calls for proper preventive action to forestall tree rot from happening in the first place.
We’ve provided you with tips on how to do this.