Dying trees - need help with ID of fungus

[Doc Stew]

Hey experts-

I just bought a new house and it's filled with half dead trees. The trees are covered in this fungus, which I'm assuming has something to do with them dying...? Any help/advice would be appreciated! Thanks so much!

 

[Raintree]

Lichen on the stems is cosmetic not a pathogenic fungus. Your Cherry & Plum have been improperly planted then mechanically damaged & most likely attacked by borers. Advice, remove & replace.

 

[Doc Stew]

Thank you very much!

 

[ATH]

More details:

Lichens often grow larger on dead/dying trees because there is more sunlight on the bark, which fuels the growth of the algae, which in turn fuels the growth of the fungus (lichens are a symbiotic relationship between fungus and algae - or sometimes cyanobacteria instead of algae). Point being: it is common to see more of this on a dead tree, which generates a lot of questions because it does look like that is associated with the death...it is complete innocent - just wrong place wrong time (or is it the right place/time?).

By "improperly planted", that is planted too deep. A chronic problem these days, unfortunately.

 

[Doc Stew]

thanks for the clarification! Guess I'll get a lot of use out of my new chainsaw...