Do you have any trees that are shedding bark? It’s actually a regular phenomenon for a tree to moderately shed some bark. Particularly birch and some types of silver maple. It’s a natural cycle for large chunks of bark to come off. Maple, ash, pine, and oak trees grow from the inside out and in order for new bark to form, force old bark to fall off.
If you notice bark coming off your tree, you first need to determine if it’s a typical shed, from an injury, or infestation. One way to figure out if it’s a normal shed is if you see bark re-growing over the shed area, meaning there is no cause for any concern. But if you see abnormalities, exposed wood, or growths, this can mean your tree is infected. Our team at Five Star Tree Services want to go over more details about trees shedding bark.
Times When Trees Shed Bark
It’s possible for tree bark to fall off after it’s been icy, when there’s an extreme drop in temperature, when it’s diseased, and also after a warm period. If your tree is diseased, there will also be other indicators of damage and stress on your tree. For instance, you can also see dead twigs or leaves.
Do You Need to Worry If a Tree Is Shedding Bark?
Just because a tree is shedding bark, doesn’t mean it’s dying. But there is no way to be certain without consulting an expert arborist and having them examine and assess the tree themselves. If/when you are concerned about your tree shedding, you need proper judgment to know what steps to proceed with. Take a look for obvious issues and changes with any regrowth or loss of bark. As a general rule of thumb, if the rest of your tree appears healthy, it’s most likely just a natural development cycle and nothing to worry about.
Ways to Tell the Causes of Tree Bark Shed
If you can’t see any other signs of disease, your tree is probably getting rid of its bark from weather damage. You can help your tree by laying down mulch and watering it. You should be adding mulch each spring and fall, while continuously watering then it’s been dry. If you believe your tree is infested, take a very close look at it. Pine, oak, and maple trees can become sick and get pests from other trees close by. If you believe to find either of these issues, such as dead leaves or blisters on your tree, contact your local arborist right away.
Hardwood trees that are shedding their bark can have a parasitic illness, known as Hypoxylon blisters. Other indicators of this are withering and yellowing leaves. You can also see organisms covering the wood under the shedding bark. If this is the case, your tree is going to have to be removed as there is no cure. But always consult professional arborists before coming to a final decision, especially when removing a tree.
How To Handle Falling Bark
Always be safe than sorry, especially where your trees are concerned. Any doubt, uncertainty, or concern call an arborist for their opinion. They will be able to properly determine if you have a major issue and what the next steps are that can fix the problem.
How Five Star Tree Services Can Help
Our team at Five Star Tree Services is here to help! Our professional arborists will be able to help you keep your trees healthy and happy. Whenever you are worried about the wellbeing of your trees, just give us a call at (416) 990-3355 for our tree care services in Toronto!