When the bark on your tree breaks, don’t ignore the warning signs and watch as your tree slowly dies from infection and insect infestations. A tree’s health and vitality can be greatly improved if you act soon after discovering bark damage.
All the details you need to know about what causes bark to crack and split on trees, and how to treat or avoid it, are here.
The Causes of Bark Cracking on Trees
The bark on a tree can crack or break for several reasons and is irreparable. Preventative steps might be taken to safeguard the tree while it isolates the damage.
While bark splitting is more common on young trees, it can happen to any tree if the following conditions are met:
Sunscald or The Southwest Winter Injury
In the winter, sunscald is a common problem on the south and south-west sides of young trees. When the sun warms the bark throughout the winter, and then the temperature drops, this condition might develop. When the outer bark dies from being overheated, the inner bark often dies as well because of the subsequent rapid cooling.
Such damage is not readily apparent until the spring growing season, when it manifests as sunken or discoloured bark that cracks and, in some cases, falls off in areas. When a tree is injured, it opens a door for parasites and illnesses to invade.
If severe winter pruning was performed on a mature tree, the condition may also affect the trunk and branches.
Sunscald Treatment
If your tree has sunscald and you’ve seen it, the best course of action is to give it time to recover on its own. You shouldn’t use a sealant or paint to cover up cracks in the bark or on broken branches.
Wrapping the injured region with tree wrap in a light colour and performing some modest trimming to enable the tree compartmentalise the exposed area helps hasten the healing process.
Sunscald Prevention
It’s simple and cheap to create a canopy that prevents sunscald on trees. In the colder months, the body’s core and limbs need to be protected in any way possible. Some of these precautions include the following:
- Plant it in the late afternoon, when it will be somewhat shaded by nearby buildings.
- If you want your trees to stand out, wrap them with white. Because white reflects sunlight, it helps keep bark from getting too hot.
- The south-west side of your trees should be shaded by evergreen trees or shrubs.
Frost Cracks
Frost cracks and sunscald share comparable environmental triggers. This happens in the late winter or early spring when the temperature swings cause the water in the xylem, phloem, wood, and inner bark to freeze and thaw repeatedly, causing the tissues to swell and shrink.
The damage to the tree manifests as a fissure in the bark, which might extend for a few inches or a few feet.
Frost Crack Treatment
As is the case with sunscald, the wound that results should not be dressed with a sealer, and instead, a tree wrap made of a light-colored material should be utilized to shield the injury while the tree recovers on its own.
Frost Crack Prevention
Sunscald is similar to other wounds in that a sealer should not be used to treat it; instead, a tree blanket composed of a light-colored cloth should be used to protect the wound while the tree heals on its own.
- Avoid damaging the tree’s trunk or its limbs at any cost.
- It’s best to wait until late autumn or early spring to fertilise, and to avoid doing so in the summer and early fall.
- Do your pruning in the late fall and winter.
Pruning, like fertilising, encourages new growth in a tree. If you prune in the spring or summer, the new growth you encourage may not have had enough time to fully harden before winter, leaving it vulnerable to frost fractures.
Drought
Long droughts followed by unusually moist phases of growth can also cause the bark to crack. Trees become increasingly thirsty and rigid the longer they are subjected to drought. Trees, especially young trees, are susceptible to “bloating” when their hydraulic systems are overloaded by an extended period of rainy weather following a dry period. When a tree gets overly fat, the pressure against the inner bark gets too high and it can split.
Cure For Splitting Bark
When this happens, it’s during a tree’s growing season, therefore it’s especially important to keep any wounds from being infected by insects or disease. The prescribed remedies are the same as those for sunscald.
Protecting Against Bark Splitting
The following procedures will aid your trees in keeping their flexibility and moisture levels during drought:
- Cover the root plate and keep it at an even moisture level by spreading an organic mulch of three to six inches from the tree’s root flare towards the tip of the canopy.
- Two or three times a week, water thoroughly to a depth of ten to fifteen inches.
- In the midst of drought, you should not prune your tree. Give them plenty of time to get back on their feet
- Avoid unwanted expansion by fertilising lightly and waiting until late autumn.
Herbicides
You shouldn’t assume that weed killers are only eliminating the weeds. The glyphosate herbicides you’re employing to get rid of bothersome weeds may be to blame for the bark splitting you’ve noticed on the south and south-west sides of trees.
The glyphosate in these herbicides weakens the internal bark structure and eliminates the winter toughness of trees, especially young trees, when they come into contact with the herbicides either accidentally or on purpose, when they are applied too frequently near trees, or when they are used in excessive doses just on surrounding landscape.
Avoiding The Harm Of Glyphosate:
- Opt for a non-adjuvant herbicide (wetting agent)
- Remember to not overspray and use the proper amounts.
- Make sure there is a buffer zone of thirty to forty feet between the sprayed weeds and your trees.
- Tree suckers should never be treated with herbicides. Herbicide will be absorbed by the tree through its roots.
- Use alternative weed-killing strategies to cut back on glyphosate.
Both advantages and disadvantages are associated with the use of any herbicide. By carefully following the label’s directions, you may get the most out of the product with the least amount of risk.
A Split Tree Trunk: Is It Repairable?
To keep them healthy and free of diseases, cracks, and splits, trees need regular care and upkeep. There are a plethora of potential causes for a tree to split or for branches to break. Intense weather swings are a major cause of tree cracking. Would it be possible to mend a tree trunk that has been split in two?
Trees can usually be fixed if the trunk hasn’t completely split or fallen over. This can be done by submitting a request to bolt the tree for structural support. To do this, holes are drilled into the trunk and sturdy threaded stainless steel bars are inserted to provide structural support.
Because the trunk was cut off at the point where it supplied water and nutrients to the branch in question, the branch eventually dried out and died.
Although there are several potential causes, frost cracks are the most common vertical split in a tree trunk. Most vertical cracks are brought on by extremes of hot and cold weather. The tree typically shrinks on chilly winter days and swells up in the sun. There will be vertical fissures in the tree trunks if this persists for a long time.
Even in hardiness zones, tree trunks can break. Repeatedly low temperatures in the area could cause cracking and damage to trees.
Cracks and splits in a tree’s bark might be a sign of internal degradation. If you see that the tree seems sick and you don’t take immediate action, the problem will only worsen. It may be necessary to remove a tree if it is diseased or has been severely damaged.
How to Fix a Broken Trunk
Not all trees need to be cut down because of cracks or other damage to their trunks. The tree’s chances of survival after a crack are proportional to the size of the fracture and the tree’s overall health. The following are some suggestions for fixing a broken tree trunk.
Bolting
To do this, first cut a slit in the trunk, then drill at least three holes through it, and last insert blots. Using large washers on both ends of the bolt will increase the surface area and thus the strength of the fastener.
Cut The Tree’s Wound Completely
Tree trunks can be repaired by cutting out the damaged area. To begin, peel back the outer layer of bark before making the initial incision. As a result, trees can recover more quickly and effectively. Doing so will allow the tree to acquire and deliver the nutrients it needs to maintain healthy growth.
There is no real complexity to this job, but if you are at all unsure of your abilities, it is recommended that you use a professional arborist.
Pruning The Wound
Dead, dying, and broken branches, as well as low, crossing, or hazardous branches, should be removed using proper pruning techniques, and the tree’s overall size should be managed through this process. However, any sort of pruning is stressful for a tree because it removes leaves that produce food (if the limb is still alive), it creates wounds which require energy to repair, and it leaves the tree vulnerable to disease.
The tree’s ability to heal from a wound and resist infection is improved by making pruning cuts in the optimal location and direction. Maintain a steady hand and a sharp blade during pruning. Don’t be lazy and abandon those bare ends of branches. Don’t cut off all the wood at the bottom of the branch. The branch’s swelling at the point of attachment to the trunk is called a collar. A wider region to callus over and a higher risk of decaying microorganisms entering the wound result from removing the limbs flush with the trunk. When temperature and rates of infection are both low and trees really aren’t actively developing, winter is the best time to prune.
When healthy, trees normally heal fast after being injured. Keep injured trees growing as vigorously as possible by watering them through droughts and fertilising them correctly. This will speed up wound healing, promote callus formation, and strengthen resistance to degradation processes.
Reattach Fractured Branches
The tree stem can be harmed even if no limbs break off. You can put the branch back on the tree if it’s in good enough shape. The damaged branch can be propped up with the help of some duct tape until it heals and becomes fully attached to the tree. This will prevent its branch from dying and speed up the recovery of the tree’s main trunk.
Since nutrients are only carried in one direction, it is important to rejoin the branch in the correct orientation. If the reattachment isn’t done properly, the branch will die from a lack of nourishment.
Should You Remove or Repair the Tree?
The tree’s trunk could be severely injured beyond repair, making it a potential hazard in a short period of time.
A local arborist should be contacted if you have any doubts regarding the safety of the tree’s trunk. Hiring a professional arborist is crucial because they will be able to deal with the tree more effectively. In addition, he or she guarantees expert outcomes and has all the equipment needed to do the job.
In this blog, you learned about the origins of bark splits on trees, as well as potential solutions and preventative measures.
Your trees will mature with greater resistance to pest infestation and disease if you take precautionary measures to safeguard them through the winter months and from dangerous chemicals.
If you don’t take care of a tree that’s gradually increasing of bark cracking or splitting, it could quickly deteriorate and die.
Conclusion
Tree bark is fragile and can easily crack or break for various reasons. If you notice bark damage on a tree, don’t wait to treat it; doing so will greatly improve the tree’s health and vitality. Preventive measures could be taken to protect the tree while it isolates the problem. When a tree’s trunk is too chubby, the inner bark can split due to the increased pressure. The bark may also crack as a result of long droughts followed by unusually moist periods of growth.
For optimal health and to prevent the spread of disease, cracks, and splits, trees require routine maintenance. Innumerable factors can bring about tree or branch damage. Extreme temperature and humidity fluctuations are a leading cause of tree cracking, but this problem is easily remedied with bolt surgery. Splits and cracks in the bark could indicate internal decay in a tree. Extremes in temperature cause the majority of vertical cracks.
Trees with cracks or other damage to their trunks do not necessarily have to be removed. Fixing a cracked tree trunk is discussed. If you have any concerns about the stability of the tree’s trunk, you should have it checked out by a professional arborist. Duct tape can be used to support the broken branch while it mends and grows back into the tree.
Content Summary
- When the bark on your tree breaks, don’t ignore the warning signs and watch as your tree slowly dies from infection and insect infestations.
- All the details you need to know about what causes bark to crack and split on trees, and how to treat or avoid it, are here.
- The bark on a tree can crack or break for several reasons and is irreparable.
- Preventative steps might be taken to safeguard the tree while it isolates the damage.
- While bark splitting is more common on young trees, it can happen to any tree if the following conditions are met:
- In the winter, sunscald is a common problem on the south and south-west sides of young trees.
- If your tree has sunscald and you’ve seen it, the best course of action is to give it time to recover on its own.
- You shouldn’t use a sealant or paint to cover up cracks in the bark or on broken branches.
- The south-west side of your trees should be shaded by evergreen trees or shrubs.
- Frost cracks and sunscald share comparable environmental triggers.
- The damage to the tree manifests as a fissure in the bark, which might extend for a few inches or a few feet.
- Avoid damaging the tree’s trunk or its limbs at any cost.
- Do your pruning in the late fall and winter.
- Pruning, like fertilising, encourages new growth in a tree.
- When this happens, it’s during a tree’s growing season, therefore it’s especially important to keep any wounds from being infected by insects or disease.
- Two or three times a week, water thoroughly to a depth of ten to fifteen inches.
- In the midst of drought, you should not prune your tree.
- Give them plenty of time to get back on their feet
- Avoid unwanted expansion by fertilising lightly and waiting until late autumn.
- The glyphosate herbicides you’re employing to get rid of bothersome weeds may be to blame for the bark splitting you’ve noticed on the south and south-west sides of trees.
- Make sure there is a buffer zone of thirty to forty feet between the sprayed weeds and your trees.
- Use alternative weed-killing strategies to cut back on glyphosate.
- Would it be possible to mend a tree trunk that has been split in two?
- Most vertical cracks are brought on by extremes of hot and cold weather.
- There will be vertical fissures in the tree trunks if this persists for a long time.
- Repeatedly low temperatures in the area could cause cracking and damage to trees.
- Cracks and splits in a tree’s bark might be a sign of internal degradation.
- It may be necessary to remove a tree if it is diseased or has been severely damaged.
- Not all trees need to be cut down because of cracks or other damage to their trunks.
- The tree’s chances of survival after a crack are proportional to the size of the fracture and the tree’s overall health.
- Cut the tree’s wound completely
- Tree trunks can be repaired by cutting out the damaged area.
- Don’t cut off all the wood at the bottom of the branch.
- The branch’s swelling at the point of attachment to the trunk is called a collar.
- You can put the branch back on the tree if it’s in good enough shape.
- This will prevent its branch from dying and speed up the recovery of the tree’s main trunk.
- A local arborist should be contacted if you have any doubts regarding the safety of the tree’s trunk.
- Hiring a professional arborist is crucial because they will be able to deal with the tree more effectively.
FAQs About Tree Removal
Should You Remove A Tree Close To The House?
If a tree’s branches are touching the roof or it is growing dangerously close to the house, it may need to be cut down or at least pruned frequently. It is recommended that large trees be planted at least 20 feet from any structure.
What Is The Fastest Way To Get Rid Of A Tree Stump?
In contrast to using a grinder, chemical removal of a tree stump is much quicker. The remaining fibres and roots of the tree can be broken down more rapidly through natural decay if chemicals are applied to holes drilled into the stump.
How Do You Know When It’s Time To Remove A Tree?
Evidence of internal decay includes vertical cracks, seams, dead branch stubs, and large, older wounds. When the tree’s main trunk has been severely damaged, it is usually best to have it cut down. No long-term damage should occur if the damaged area is less than 25% of the trunk’s circumference.
Do Roots Still Grow When Trees Are Cut Down?
After a tree’s leaves have been removed, it will no longer be able to produce the food needed to support new root development. If the root system keeps sending up shoots that develop into leaves, there’s a chance that the roots themselves will expand.
What Happens To Roots After Stump Grinding?
Stump grinding removes the visible remnants of a tree, but the roots of a mature tree can extend 4, 8, or even 12 feet below the surface. These roots will eventually decompose on their own after being ground up, but it will take a while. Over a decade may pass before the roots are completely decomposed.
