Mountain Ash

[angie]

Ok not a rock plant but need advice. My Rowan tree isn’t looking good. I asked a friend and he thinks it’s canker and I need to take it down. I have a row of these on my drive and the one that is dying hides my horrible electric pole. It’ dying from the top and the stem has vertical cracks on it. Shame if I have to cut it down.

Angie 

[Maggi Young]

If most of the  damage is near the top I suppose it would be possible to cut out the affected area and try  spraying to  stop the canker - but  taking the top out will ruin the purpose of  hiding the electricity pole anyway, so you may be as well to remove it  sharpish and  replant with  another type of tree.

[Alan_b]

I  am reminded of my own Rowan tree loss a few years ago; that turned-out to be Honey Fungus: http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=14346.msg358052#msg358052

[angie]

Ok looks like it’s going to have to go.
Alan there isn’t any sign of honey fungus but maybe that comes later but it does have big cracks on it like your picture.  I still have a container of Armillatox, never knew it was banned .

Angie 

[brianw]

Sorbus is susceptible to a "canker" too. I have 2 "damaged" areas on the main stem of my S. sargentiana. 1 maybe 10cm X 2.5 cm and another much higher up about 2cm round. The first I treated 2 years ago with fungicide, sulphur and then later painted with aluminium paint. Seems stable now and the bark is growing round it. Crossed fingers ?
A second more recent area nearer the top is small but covers almost half the diameter of the main stem. Tried similar treatment but may try and decapitate the tree and resort to a spreading tree just to keep it.
This is the first year covered in flowers; now just over. There is a sucker (same leaves) low down if I am desperate to start again.

[Carolyn]

Angie, I wonder if the cracks in the trunk could be frost damage? I have seen this on other trees and shrubs, but I would have thought sorbus is fairly tough. Clutching at straws, to try and save your tree.

[angie]

Carolyn, I really am not sure what is causing the tree to die back. It’s s shame and we have ten in a row . I first thought it might have something to do with the electric pole but don’t think so. I hate losing trees. Years ago one blew right over and my husband tied it on the tow bar and pulled it up , staked it and it’s as healthy as the others now. I never thought it would have survived .
Thanks Carolyn for your post.

Angie