Question
Tree holes 1
These puzzling holes have appeared in an old oak tree at my lake house. One looks like it might be a woodpecker's nest but no bird's are around and it looks sort of rotten inside the hole. I read that filling the holes is no longer thought to be a good idea. What should I do to protect this tree (and keep it from falling on the house)? Thanks!
AnswerIt looks like either a wood pecker or maybe a squirrel is trying to make a nest in the tree. The tree has been infected with a decay fungus and the woody part is being decayed by the fungus. The living part of the tree is the layer of cells just under the bark the woody cells are dead and if a wound allows a fungus to enter the fungus over time will decay the wood causing the tree to become hollow. A tree can live this way for many many years. You can tell is the tree is getting to be a problem by upper limbs breaking off during wind storm and these are decayed where that are attached to the trunk. The wood helps the strength of the trunk and if the decay reaches up into the upper limbs the tree maybe declared a hazard and be removed. As long as the trees foliage is healthy looking and no large limbs are breaking off I would let the tree be. Fertilizing the tree with 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of 1 lb per inch of trunk diameter will help increase the overall health. Do this is the Fall after the leaves or early spring have fallen and water the fertilize in good. No need to try filling the hole.
