Why is Your Tree Losing Bark?
It is quite normal for a tree to lose bark, especially for some species like silver maple, sycamore, and birch. Shedding large chunks of bark is part of the tree’s allure. Trees like oak, pine maple and ash develop from the inside out, causing older bark to chip away making room for new bark.
When bark peels off a tree, determine whether the tree is going through a normal shedding process or if injury or disease is causing the problem. If you see bark covering the wood after the old bark peels away, the tree is probably undergoing a normal shedding process. If you see bare wood or mats of fungus under the peeling bark, the tree is suffering from environmental damage or disease.
If healthy bark is underneath peeling layers, then your tree is okay, but here are a few signs that may signal a problem with the tree:
- Bark falls off after a frost. This usually appears on happens on the tree’s the south or southwest side. A sudden drop in temperature can make a tree shed bard and crack under stress.
- Bark falls off after an excessive heat spell. Like frost damage, the heat strips back down into the wood.
- Bark falls off an unhealthy tree. Most likely, you will see other signs of stress such as cankers, sap or dead twigs and leaves.
Is my tree dying if bark is falling off?
Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to the question. However, if the tree has an overall healthy appearance, there is a good chance it is just peeling as part of the growth process. After an extreme weather event causes your tree to lose bark, there are steps that can be taken. This become is bigger question if you discover other worrisome sign s that point to other bigger problems.
What to do if pine, maple, oak, or ash tree bark is falling off?
Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to the question. However, if the tree has an overall healthy appearance, there is a good chance it is just peeling as part of the growth process. After an extreme weather event causes your tree to lose bark, there are steps that can be taken. This become is bigger question if you discover other worrisome sign s that point to other bigger problems.
What to do if pine, maple, oak, or ash tree bark is falling off?
If the tree has no other symptoms, it is likely the peeling bark is caused by weather stress. Treat these stressed trees with water and mulch. Make sure to hydrate the tree when its soil is dry and apply organic much in the spring and fall.
Take a closer look if your tree looks unhealthy. There are many tree diseases and pests that can affect ash, pine, oak, and maple trees. The Emerald Ash Borer can burrow underneath an ash tree and smooth patch disease is a fungus that attacks the out layer of oak trees.
If you find any signs of pest or disease—sawdust, oozing cankers, dead leaves, or a fuzzy fungus—contact the tree care specialists at Arborist Now. We will let you know if the problem is treatable or if you need to remove it to keep other plants on your property out of harm’s way.
Trees with splits in the bark can live for many years if the damaged area is narrow. Hardwood trees that have peeling bark may be suffering from a fungal disease called Hypoxylon canker. Peeling bark caused by this disease is accompanied by yellowing and wilting leaves and dying branches. Additionally, the wood under the peeling bark is covered with a mat of fungus. As there is no cure for this disease, the tree should be removed, and the wood destroyed to prevent the spread of the fungus. Cut down the tree as soon as possible to prevent damage and injury from falling branches.
Remember, it is always better to be cautious when it comes to the health of your trees. If you see quite a bit of bark peeling or falling off your trees, it is time to do something. At Arborist Now, our principal concern is keeping your trees as healthy as possible, which means that we do have to do some research as to why your trees are peeling. If you are worried about the health of your trees or fear the worst, it is important to give us a call immediately.
Call us today at 415-310-7781. The professionals at Arborist Now will come out and determine if the peeling bark is a serious problem and what measures may be needed to ameliorate the issue. As the premier tree care service in the San Francisco Bay Area, you can rely on us to care for your property.
