Blotchiness on oak and beech. What causes this?

[Treetom]

A client is concerned about blotchy tree trunks. The foliage looks good, bark ok. What to do.

 

[jefflovstrom]

Get a sample of the area and send it to the lab. Could be nothing serious tho.
Jeff
Jeff

 

[Toddppm]

Could be the start of smooth patch? Never heard of it affecting Beech though, but have seen that before now that you posted. Never seemed to be a problem.

 

[ATH]

Definately smooth patch (also called white patch) on that oak. Probably similar on the beeck. Just a fungus that eats the outer bark - causes no damage to the tree. It can be an indacator that the tree is growing a little slower...the patch forms more quickly than the tree is replacing the bark, but the fungus on the bark is NOT causing that slowed growth.

 

[coolbrze]

What's a good lab to send samples to?

 

[ATH]

What's a good lab to send samples to?

The Virginia Tech Plant Disease Clinic would be a good place in Virginia. If you are sending samples of the bark, be SURE that you do not cut in deeper than the outer bark - that will be difficult on the beech.

Not sure why samples are necessary though.