Gum Tree Bark Splitting

You can protect your tree while it compartmentalizes the damage and protect others by taking preventative measures.

Gum tree bark splitting. Newly planted trees or young trees are more prone to bark splitting. He explained that during periods of drought trees often don t grow much but as soon as it rains they make up for it with enormous amount of growth. Peeling bark caused by this disease is accompanied by yellowing and wilting leaves and dying branches. While it is a more common occurrence on younger trees all trees are susceptible to bark splitting when exposed to the following.

Bark splitting occurs due to a variety of environmental factors such as sharp temperature changes that freeze and thaw water. Splits can occur on the trunk of the tree as well as on branches. Fluctuating growth can also lead to splits in bark as the tree moves. Hardwood trees that have peeling bark may be suffering from a fungal disease called hypoxylon canker.

Bark splitting can occur in response to various environmental factors at different times of the year. Trees with splits in the bark can live for many years if the damaged area is narrow. Gum or sap draining from a tree trunk or limbs is common in trees in the genus prunus which includes peaches and cherries but it can happen in many species. Bark splits are not likely to be fatal to trees although they will in some cases allow entry of disease organisms which can cause decay.

Trees that are most susceptible to this type of injury are those with thin bark such as certain fruit trees. Don looked at a scribbly gum eucalyptus haemastoma with vertical splits in its trunk. Sometimes the girth of a tree expands so rapidly that it can actually split its own bark. Tree bark can split or crack for many reasons and you cannot fix it.