Help identifying and treating tree fungus

[M1AGM]

We have an old tree that shed it leaves early this year and generally looks very tired apart from spring blossom. I would like to revive it so I have given it a really hard prune as it was a big tangled mess. I noticed there is a fungal growth on most of the bark which I presume is the culprit for the tree struggling. I think it is some variety related to cherry but could be wrong. I have tried manually brushing the bark by hand and although it does shift some of the stuff it isn’t doing the job properly.

Any tips on what/how to treat this as the internet hasn’t been very helpful or maybe I’m missing something in my searches.

[hidetheelephants]

It looks like lichen, if it is it's not doing any harm and may even have a symbiotic relationship with the tree.

[danb79]

As above that's lichen

And if it's a cherry tree, they need a hard pruning every 3-4 years ideally (if it fruits then every 2-3 years); if just blossom then 4 years is fine...

Trim most of it right back; but leave a couple of branches fairly long as to not dumb it back too much

[Bill]

AIUI cherry trees have a tendency to die if pruned?

[NDA]

hidetheelephants said:

It looks like lichen, if it is it's not doing any harm and may even have a symbiotic relationship with the tree.

It is. It'll do no harm at all - leave it alone.

It is thought to be a sign of good air quality.

[M1AGM]

Awesome. Thats great news, thanks everyone.

[Simpo Two]

NDA said:

hidetheelephants said:

It looks like lichen, if it is it's not doing any harm and may even have a symbiotic relationship with the tree.

It is. It'll do no harm at all - leave it alone.

It is thought to be a sign of good air quality.

Fruticose ones can be, but not yer average town lichen.

The 'symbiosis' bit is the lichen itself, being a symbiosis of fungus and algae (or cyanobacteria).

[danb79]

Bill said:

AIUI cherry trees have a tendency to die if pruned?

Nope; the right time of year to do it now too... Fruiting trees need to be pruned well to encourage decent crops otherwise if they get leggy, the fruit suffers and isn't the best

Blossom trees need more maintenance than anything else otherwise they can go haywire

[Bill]

danb79 said:

Nope; the right time of year to do it now too... Fruiting trees need to be pruned well to encourage decent crops otherwise if they get leggy, the fruit suffers and isn't the best

Blossom trees need more maintenance than anything else otherwise they can go haywire

Interesting (Admittedly I googled to double check! ) I've been told the opposite by a couple of gardeners!

[Pheo]

You need to prune cherries while the sap is rising to avoid silver leaf disease. That’ll be what the sensitivity is to timing.

[danb79]

Pheo said:

You need to prune cherries while the sap is rising to avoid silver leaf disease. That ll be what the sensitivity is to timing.

Yup; deffo not. Spring or Winter job

August, September at the latest - always cut them at an angle too; that'll help them heal better

I'm slowly cutting back and keeping clear the wooded area at the very bottom of our garden; we've gone off the idea of chickens, so I've decided to make it into a small orchard

Cherry tree, pear tree, apple tree, damson / plum tree and maybe some berry bushes - should get some good crops out of that lot... A planting job for me next month - gives me time to get some of the ground turned over and de-rooted!