Bark Cracks of Tree Trunks
Drought Cracks:
- Susceptible trees: maple, honey locust, crabapple, mountain ash, London-plane
- Occur most commonly when trees are first planted and a year or so after transplant
- Trunks will crack if trees become too dry
- Typically represent a one-time event and will generally close or seal almost completely and never reopen again
- Can occur on any side of tree
Frost Cracks:
- Susceptible trees: maples, sycamores, beech, lindens
- More likely to continue to open and close over subsequent years
- Usually less freezing and thawing is required to re-open the crack in the future
- Can occur on any side of tree
- Development of a conspicuous callus ridge often occurs overtime
Sunscald Wounds:
- Susceptible species: maple, honey locust, fruit trees (cherry), ash, oak, linden, willow
- When sunscald occurs on the south or southwest side of tree trunks, they can create cracks
- Generally, never close or seal over, and may often increase in size as the tree grows
- Young, thin-barked deciduous trees are most susceptible
Resources:
Plant Health Care (PHC) Concerns in the Landscape
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