help red maple bark is peeling off is it dying?

express7976 · 20th February 2010, 06:32 AM

just saw it today. three looked healthy but it is winter here. the bark looked split and when i touched it it came off in a huge sheet its like the entire bark is coming off and all thats there is dry wood. the green healthy part of the tree is just tearing right off. if its dying i want to remove it and if its a disease i need to keep it from spreading to my other trees.

Eric Frei · 20th February 2010, 06:55 AM

I think it's days are either over or very numbered.

Not sure what killed it, looks buried too deep. I reckon rip it out roots and all, it's not that big. Then you can do a post mortem on the root system and soil.

Tilia · 20th February 2010, 04:32 PM

to my understanding you have had a very cold year. just a theory, cold be dehydration (tree cant transport ice), or frost bite(cells explode due to ice crystals forming in the cambium). could explain for the large piece of cambium shedding on such healthy looking wood.

Voon Chin Seng · 21st February 2010, 12:05 AM

It is hard to comment on both of the trees (pictures) unless we know the name of the trees (species) as some trees (species) have tendency towards bark peeling or bark cracking during suddenly temperature change but one thing can be sure that if the tree is dead for a long time, its bark starting to fall off and there is sign of inner wood cracking.

For the 1st tree (picture), I suggest you first check the tip of tree branches for sign of living, if yes then check and compare with similar tree (species) in the immediate locality, whether is it the only tree or there are more than that.

Regarding the 2nd tree (picture), there are 2 possible reasons: 1. Due to extremely temperature change as mentioned by Tilia; 2. Due to external forces e.g. wind loading on the tree causing it, this is very similar to Prof. Claus Matteck has mentioned about the banana crack.

Garry Brockley · 21st February 2010, 10:34 AM

I disagree! the cracks are more likely to be a drying of the cambium as the moisture leaves the dead tree and the bark seperates from the hard wood.

Eric Frei · 21st February 2010, 03:06 PM

The thing is, with bark missing like that it's like ring barking.

How it happened is the mystery, I doubt wind loading and have no experience with ice/snow etc to know what that does. I know water expands when frozen and perhaps the phloem/xylem expanded cracking the bark, cellular damage resulted and the vascular system has failed in locations.

Recovery will be tough, and I made my recommendation considering that.

Voon Chin Seng · 22nd February 2010, 01:23 AM

It is great! we have heard different opinions.

I am living in the tropics, therefore do not have much information of the red maple, is it bark peeling off is one of the sign that the tree infected by disease? or what Ekka mentioned like ring barking? Here, we are based on the pictures shown to us and assumed what could be went wrong without asking more information e.g. its condition, history etc.

By knowing the bark peeling or the bark crack happened before or after the snow can be a cue, the more we have asked about the tree, the closer towards the answer. Of course, if you have experienced such happening before you will know why (the answer).

When I said the crack could be due to wind load because I have seen a few cases that the trees after the strong wind blown on them, where the trunks have swayed vigorously caused the bark of the lower part of the trunks/stems crack, the more serious case is the trunk snapped apart.

jmcg.insight.gardens · 22nd February 2010, 08:56 PM

We do not have the cold problems that affect trees here in Australia that you are experiencing at the moment, your experiencing severe weather up there in the Northern Hemisphere.

I'm not an Arborist, but a Horticulturalist so I hesitated to give advice.

Everyone's on the right track really,...... I've read a lot of England and American Published books and have read on this in the past

maybe the following links indicate sunscald or frost cracks causing the problem.

Follow the advice in the second link to protect your other trees.

I recommend to get an Arborist to check your trees.

Crops | Diseases | Winter Sunscald and Frost Cracking: Tree Bark Damaged from Winter Bite| Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives | Province of Manitoba

Quote:

Winter Sunscald and Frost Cracking: Tree Bark Damaged from Winter Bite
In Manitoba, for example, January saw a range of fluctuating temperatures, ranging from just above 0°C to below -30°C. Not all of these days had bright sunshine, but even at temperatures well below freezing, the temperature of the bark can increase by several degrees, triggering growth. Subsequent drops in temperature (notably at night), can result in rapid freezing and death of the developing inner bark tissues.

Frost cracks (See Figure 4) are often the result of some sort of predisposing factor, which occurred to the trunk years earlier. In late winter and early spring, water in the inner bark and in the wood expands and contracts under fluctuating temperatures. Defective wood does not contract as well as healthy wood. Rapid expansion and contraction of water within the wood and bark, particularly under falling night temperatures, can result in a crack. Frost cracks may be up to several feet long and are often found on the southwest side of the tree. These cracks may heal in the summer only to reopen again in winter. Successive cracking and healing over years can result in the formation of “frost ribs” (See Figures 5a and 5b) on the sides of affected trees. Frost cracks can act as sites of entry for wood decay organisms.

Prepare Landscape | Winter Storms | Natural Disasters | CAES | UGA

Quote:

One common problem that may occur during cold temperatures in woody plants is bark splitting. Bark splitting appears as loose bark in various areas on the trunk. As the bark exfoliates from dead tissue on the trunk, a frost canker can form. The canker may initially appear as a darkened, moist area. Bark splitting can cause structural damage and reduce the plant's ability to transport nutrients and water. This can cause the death of the entire plant.
Although not common in Georgia, frost cracks on the trunks of woody plants can occur in sections of the state when plants are exposed to extremely cold temperatures. A frost crack is a long, deep, narrow crevice running up and down the trunk of a tree. As temperatures cool down, the temperature of the trunk drops quickly and the trunk contracts and may split.

Hire an Arborist (recommended as they will also assess your site conditions) to recommend ice resistant trees for replacement in the future, or if you can't afford one check your State Authority or closest University Website.

regards Julie

20th February 2010, 06:32 AM	#1
express7976 I'm new here so be nice Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: rockland massachusetts Posts: 1	help red maple bark is peeling off is it dying? just saw it today. three looked healthy but it is winter here. the bark looked split and when i touched it it came off in a huge sheet its like the entire bark is coming off and all thats there is dry wood. the green healthy part of the tree is just tearing right off. if its dying i want to remove it and if its a disease i need to keep it from spreading to my other trees. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Jeff Darby; 20th February 2010 at 07:34 AM. Reason: resize & embed pictures

20th February 2010, 06:55 AM	#2
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,991	Re: help red maple bark is peeling off is it dying? I think it's days are either over or very numbered. Not sure what killed it, looks buried too deep. I reckon rip it out roots and all, it's not that big. Then you can do a post mortem on the root system and soil. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

20th February 2010, 04:32 PM	#3
Tilia Sappling Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Brisbane Posts: 47	Re: help red maple bark is peeling off is it dying? to my understanding you have had a very cold year. just a theory, cold be dehydration (tree cant transport ice), or frost bite(cells explode due to ice crystals forming in the cambium). could explain for the large piece of cambium shedding on such healthy looking wood.

21st February 2010, 12:05 AM	#4
Voon Chin Seng Sappling Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Singapore Posts: 8	Re: help red maple bark is peeling off is it dying? It is hard to comment on both of the trees (pictures) unless we know the name of the trees (species) as some trees (species) have tendency towards bark peeling or bark cracking during suddenly temperature change but one thing can be sure that if the tree is dead for a long time, its bark starting to fall off and there is sign of inner wood cracking. For the 1st tree (picture), I suggest you first check the tip of tree branches for sign of living, if yes then check and compare with similar tree (species) in the immediate locality, whether is it the only tree or there are more than that. Regarding the 2nd tree (picture), there are 2 possible reasons: 1. Due to extremely temperature change as mentioned by Tilia; 2. Due to external forces e.g. wind loading on the tree causing it, this is very similar to Prof. Claus Matteck has mentioned about the banana crack.

21st February 2010, 10:34 AM	#5
Garry Brockley Bayside Tree Care Brisbane Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Brisbane Aus Posts: 1,641	Re: help red maple bark is peeling off is it dying? I disagree! the cracks are more likely to be a drying of the cambium as the moisture leaves the dead tree and the bark seperates from the hard wood. __________________ My business:- Brisbane Bayside Tree Care

21st February 2010, 03:06 PM	#6
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,991	Re: help red maple bark is peeling off is it dying? The thing is, with bark missing like that it's like ring barking. How it happened is the mystery, I doubt wind loading and have no experience with ice/snow etc to know what that does. I know water expands when frozen and perhaps the phloem/xylem expanded cracking the bark, cellular damage resulted and the vascular system has failed in locations. Recovery will be tough, and I made my recommendation considering that. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

22nd February 2010, 01:23 AM	#7
Voon Chin Seng Sappling Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Singapore Posts: 8	Re: help red maple bark is peeling off is it dying? It is great! we have heard different opinions. I am living in the tropics, therefore do not have much information of the red maple, is it bark peeling off is one of the sign that the tree infected by disease? or what Ekka mentioned like ring barking? Here, we are based on the pictures shown to us and assumed what could be went wrong without asking more information e.g. its condition, history etc. By knowing the bark peeling or the bark crack happened before or after the snow can be a cue, the more we have asked about the tree, the closer towards the answer. Of course, if you have experienced such happening before you will know why (the answer). When I said the crack could be due to wind load because I have seen a few cases that the trees after the strong wind blown on them, where the trunks have swayed vigorously caused the bark of the lower part of the trunks/stems crack, the more serious case is the trunk snapped apart.

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