Bark receding about 1' up around entire base of silver maple

[MikoDel]

That happened at least some time ago. There is just a tiny bit of intact cambium in the 3rd pic that is keeping the tree alive.

It's trying to regrow (see circled area), but that tree should come down sooner than later. I suspect it will start dying quickly and shedding large branches. If someone needs to rig off of the tree they want live/strong branches for that.

View attachment 102097


Cause??? I don't know. There doesn't appear to be physical damage. I might have guessed something like armalaria, but there isn't really evidence of fungus left.

Maybe a lightning strike???

Indeed, after I posted these pics, I was looking at them and thinking, "good Lord!!! There is no conduit of nourishment up into the crown, except for that one small intact strip of bark in the back." It took me a second to realize that girdling doesn't only happen when some numbnuts puts a cable around the trunk and leaves it for years - this degradation counts too. Without the cambium layer (there's too many layers, sorry if I'm off) there's no water, no nourishment... and as you say, God knows how the roots are holding up.

Lightning strike is an interesting possibility.

I really appreciate all your expert input, and I will notify the owner that this tree is indeed a time bomb for future failure.