Question
QUESTION: I live in Chattanooga, TN and had some storm damage to an oak tree.  When
cleaning up the branches I noticed a reddish/brown gummy bear like growth on
a few of the dead branches.  It covered a good amount of the branch.

I have a picture I can send if needed.

ANSWER: Dear Dan, A picture would be helpful to be sure that I am correct on this, but I believe (95% sure)what you have is a fungus type growth that is a type of mushroom.  It usually occurs on dead wood, especially if the branches were already dead when they were knocked down from the tree.  It is probably much longer than wide, usually a reddish brown, and somewhat stiff.  It also occasionally occurs at the base of the tree.  It is basically benign, and shouldn't affect your tree.  Most oak trees have very few pests or diseases that will harm them.  The only possible exception is if the oak is a water oak, which is a beautiful, but somewhat short-lived oak compared with most other species, but still the presence of the fungus should not be harmful to the tree.  Often oak trees will have branches die in the top of the tree, which usually only come down during a good size storm.  Send me a picture if you can, but I wouldn't worry too much about it, since this is a natural and common occurrence.  One short word on oak trees - they often send up knees or root knots to the surface, so don't cover them up, make sure an oak tree has room to grow, and don't build a large structure close to them.  I am assuming that these issues aren't a problem, and either way, a mushroom is a mushroom.  So don't worry, especially if the branches were blown out by the storm, and your tree should be just fine.  If any area broken out by the storm leaves large patches of exposed wood, you might cover them with tree paint to protect them from borers, but the growth is a natural and common one.  Hope this helps.  Melissa

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------


Mushroom?   QUESTION: Thank you.  Here is a picture just to confirm.

Answer
Dear Dan, No that wasn't what I expected to see in your picture.  Give me until Monday, and I want to run that by a friend to check.  I still don't think it will be a problem, because oak trees really don't have many diseases or pests, but I would like to get a specific ID on this.  Thank you so much for your picture, though.  Melissa

Dear Dan, I took the picture to a friend, Dennis Smith, Extension Agent for Gregg County, TX, to get his opinion on your oak branch growth.  He also believes it is a fungus like a mushroom.  It could also be insect eggs, but that is doubtful, and in any event, they won't harm your oak tree.  So don't worry, and if your tree is otherwise healthy (see tips offered in original answer), there is no problem.  Happy gardening.  Melissa