Ugly split in my favorite tree

orlando79

I have been raising this maple for several years, and it has become one of the best looking trees in the neighborhood.

Now, in the past few weeks, it has developed a nasty eruption in the bark. The split goes nearly 2/3 of the way around the trunk (about 10 in. around total) about 2 1/2 feet from the ground. It looks like the wood has a tumor and swelled up.

It is a red/silver maple; Autumn something. The tree has been in the ground 3 years. It put out beautiful new growth this spring and recently added some new leaves at the the end. Foliage looks good. This has been a very dry summer but I have watered regularly.

I did take off cedar mulch (it blew around) and put on cypress a little while ago (?!).

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I would really hate to lose this tree.











Thx in advance
Dennis

Attached Thumbnails

         

Eric Frei

Similar thread.

Higand cherry bark split (long post, many details)

Seems like reaction wood growth to a local wound or infection of sorts.

Could it have been the site of guy wires in the past?

Likely but not certainly possible it has developed to a localized fungal canker, the tree growing wood rapidly to compensate.

Best thing for trees to try to contain infections is good tree care, mulch, soil conditioners. This one is controversial and will raise a few eyebrows but mix up some copper based fungicide like Yates Fungus Fighter spray the canopy and brush some on the trunk near the wound.

It is up to the tree to contain this infection, so whilst fungicide subdues the rate of colonization it doesn't really flat out kill the fungi, just controls it. There's 3 base groups of fungicide.

1/ Sulphur based
2/ Copper based
3/ Phosphite based

I find copper effective and least destructive, sulphur is sometimes used where copper is ineffective, phosphite based is used on root rots and soil borne fungi.

So in this case try the copper based, coming off summer into autumn is an ideal time to get things right.

Once the fungicide treatment is over perhaps do a mycorrhizal soil application to double the drip line size.

__________________

Sean Freeman

Certainly looks like old injury from guy straps/ropes.

Personally probably wouldn't be worried about applying any antifungal treatments improve the health of the tree, it is so young and appears so vigourous I would think that provided you keep working to improve the soil and root environment you should have few worries.

stirmantrees

how thick is that mulch?
just curious.

orlando79

Hi,

Thanks to all for your advice. I've decided to let it go for now, keeping the tree as stress-free as possible and see what happens. I'm not especially optimistic.

I can see that the circumferential nature of the split would suggest damage from a support, but that is not the case. (The mulch is 2 in. thick.)

Thanks again
Dennis (OP)

orlando79

Hi,

I thought I might provide an update after one year. I am the OP. First of all, many thanks for all of the suggestions. There were basically four recommendations for my injured tree.
1. Cut it down.
2. Using aseptic procedure, chisel out infected wood.
3. Spritz with fungicide.
4. Do nothing.
I have opted for #4 and so far, the tree is doing great. It added about 8 percent to the caliper, there is lots of new growth and the foliage is dark, dense and uniform.

Thanks again. Dennis

TreeSpecialist

Young trees are often buried when moved around and then planted The wound looks to be from the original planting. the tissue was damaged at that time of planting but the bark remained intact. Now that scar tissue is forming where the tree was injured, it is erupting through the bark.

Doing nothing now is appropriate.

Know that this tree is relatively short lived and one day, you'll regret having it.

It will long enough to be big and expensive when removal becomes necessary.

__________________

orlando79

Hi all,

I am the OP and am making a final followup report. The tree (an Autumn Blaze) is fantastic. It shows every sign of vigor. The wound is essentially unchanged. Go figure.

We will very likely put in another one.

Good health and happiness to all.