The Grounded Orchardist

Now this really is a pondering of mine. We are told lichen doesn’t hurt trees, it’s a sign of good air quality etc. That’s really good news! Lichen is usually prevalent on weaker trees that are diseased etc. That’s certainly been the case in the orchards I’ve worked on. It’s definitely more on these trees than the healthier trees.

However, my ponderings over the years (theres a lot of time to think in my job). Have led me to wonder if although the Lichen doesn’t harm the tree. Surely covering the lenticels on the branch means it’s accidentally smothering the tree. The lenticels allow the tree to breathe. If its smothered, surely the tree can’t fight against the pests and disease that attack it and make it weaker?!

I’ve trawled the Internet and books, I’ve asked various experts and nobody seems to have an answer but everyone seems to think it’s a legit theory.

So i’m going to do an experiment. I’m going to take off some of the lichen from our worst covered trees and leave the others and see if there’s a difference. Perhaps then and of course organically the trees which just so happen to be poorly anyway may be able to fight the disease susceptibility.

Now I’m only going to take some off the worst affected trees. Lichen is a valuable source of food, nesting material and a home for many of our beneficial insects and I don’t want to take that away.

If anyone else tries this it’s best to take it off when wet. Avoiding cankered areas to avoid spreading the spores. It’s easier to take off when wet and doesn’t seem to damage the bark at all. It just rubs off.