Komplexe Schäden an Rotbuche (Fagus sylvatica) und Auswirkungen des trockenen und heißen Sommers 2018 auf ältere Bestände; Waldschutzinfo Nr. 06 / 2019

A dieback of older beeches (mostly > 100 years old), whose dried and browned leaves remained in the canopy over the winter, is currently observed. Affected beeches often lost fine branches and usually did not grow new shoots. In spring 2019 or earlier, the trunk showed signs of dieback from the crown or the appearance of sap flow spots. These symptoms were associated with bark necrosis, bark cracking and bark peeling. They could be attributed to sunburn and/or bark fungus infestation, sometimes followed by bark beetle or jewel beetle infestation. Various wood-rotting fungi then appeared. Particularly affected were copper beeches, which were already suffering from vitality loss of beech. On the other hand, trees were affected which, due to their location, e.g. on a south-facing slope, on a well-drained hilltop, at the edge of the stand or in clearings, had been severely affected in their vitality by the prolonged heat, high solar radiation and lack of precipitation.