Box elder tree health - Ask Extension
Hi, I have lived with my full-grown box elder tree for 18 years (though it's at least 30 years old) and this is the first time I've seen white mushroo...
Knowledgebase
Box elder tree health #851384
Asked September 27, 2023, 11:19 AM EDT
Hi, I have lived with my full-grown box elder tree for 18 years (though it's at least 30 years old) and this is the first time I've seen white mushrooms growing on it. We last had the tree trimmed 2-3 years ago. The mushrooms appeared this week. Is this anything I should be concerned about, such as indicative of poor tree health? I'm attaching three photos of the two mushrooms I found. Thanks for your help!
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Wood rot fungus is present, but we can't assess its significance so far as tree health is concerned by viewing the photos.
The fungus appears to be associated with pruning wounds, but broken branches and some dieback suggest it might have been present before the tree was trimmed.
We advise asking a certified arborist to assess the tree's health onsite and determine the extent of decay. The arborist's recommendations might range from watchful waiting to tree removal.
Go here to learn more about wood rot decay and tree health:
http://plantpathology.ca.uky.edu/files/ppfs-or-w-01.pdf
The fungus appears to be associated with pruning wounds, but broken branches and some dieback suggest it might have been present before the tree was trimmed.
We advise asking a certified arborist to assess the tree's health onsite and determine the extent of decay. The arborist's recommendations might range from watchful waiting to tree removal.
Go here to learn more about wood rot decay and tree health:
http://plantpathology.ca.uky.edu/files/ppfs-or-w-01.pdf
