Tree Growth - Clueless

paul.durkin25JNvCo4_l

Hi, 
Hoping someone can help me. I’ve just moved to a house and there is a beautiful tree in the garden but there are growths all over it (see attached pictures). 

Does anyone know what these are? 

And is there anything I can do? 

I really do like this tree, so I’m keen to preserve it and bring it back to good health. 

Thanks 

fidgetbones

Its a forsythia. They look like lichen growing on older stems.  They are harmless and indicate good air quality.

paul.durkin25JNvCo4_l

Thanks for the quick reply. So you’d say the tree was healthy and this isn’t a concern?

Dovefromabove

Lichen does no damage but as well as indicating good air quality it can also indicate quite slow growth. 

I suspect your forsythia  is quite mature. To give it the best opportunity of lasting several more years you can gently clear the grass from a round the base of the tree so give a clear circle with a diameter of around 3’. Thus will enable you to water and feed the tree without the grass competing. 

I would then feed it with some slow release organic fertiliser like fish, blood & bone as directed on the pack. Water it in well and then mulch with some homemade garden compost or well-rotted manure. 

From March to mid September give it a bucketful of water twice a week ... more in warm dry spells ... pouring it on slowly so that it soaks deep into the soil. 

Hope that helps. 😊 

bertrand-mabel

Our very elderly plant has not been producing flowers for some years and so taking the bullet it has been cut right back with just 3 leads left and though we may not have flowers next year, hopefully new growth and new flowers the next year.

Silver surfer

Amazing specimen .
Agree with all comments /advice by others.