I am in Houston Tx, land of drought and humidity. I have a very old pear tree planted over 55 years ago that is approximately 30 feet tall. The top is green but the trunk is hollow and discolored. The tree is in a protected location surrounded on two sides by a building about the 5 feet away. We have trimmed, nurtured, fed and watered it through the terrible Houston heat and drought this year. It has developed a large fungal growth that appears as a uniformly white spongy material. the growth is somewhat in the shape of a pyramid growing from the ground to approximately 2 feet up the trunk. The same fungal growth appeared on a nearby Hackberry tree, over 45 feet tall, that died early in the drought. I would appreciate any information concerning this fungus and the prospects for this ancient tree. Is the fungus a consequence of the tree's imminent death or is it a cause? Should the fungal growth be removed and treated with medication? Is there anything that can be done to save the tree? I understand your forum relates to the north- west but no one else seems to give us any hope for this situation.
It would be useful to see a photo for identification of the fungus, if that is what it actually is. If it is a fungus, then there is no hope for the tree. Any exterior manifestation of a fungus means that mycelial threads have been growing inside for a long time, probably years. The interior of the tree will be infected over a large volume and will eventually rot away. It may be several more years before the tree falls down; so you have time to graft branches from this tree to an appropriate root stock, if you want to keep this particular variety of pear. Of course, you will get a replacement tree much faster if you know the variety and can buy it at a garden center.
