bark splitting Cherry Trees

[Tom Ellenberger]

I had 11 Kwanzan Flowering Cherry trees. A couple have died after bark split around trunk and a few others are beginning the same process. What might cause the bark splitting and peeling away..... and the tree then dying. Please view the accompanying photos.

 

[mrtree]

Couple possibilities
1) south west injury (other names also) where sun bounces off snow, heats tree allowing for metabolism and and then freezing as the sun goes down
2) Kwanzan cherries do not seem to be the hardiest of trees and they often have splits developing
3) bleeding canker (phytophthora) may also have caused the splits initially

 

[Tom Ellenberger]

I had 11 Kwanzan Flowering Cherry trees. A couple have died after bark split around trunk and a few others are beginning the same process. What might cause the bark splitting and peeling away..... and the tree then dying. Please view the accompanying photos.

Is there anything that can be done to halt the process? (It is unlikely that #1 is responsible).

 

[Leroy]

Canker seems likely, it doesn't look uniform enough to be frost/sun damage from my experience. It also looks like the trees may be planted too deep.

 

[mrtree]

"Is there anything that can be done to halt the process?"

Make your trees healthier through improved soil conditions and watering. Without inspection is it hard to know but root collar excavation, soils remediation with organic matter and air, maybe fertilizer or fish and kelp emulsion, supplemental water as needed.

 

[guymayor]

Root collar *examination* is needed to diagnose, before treatments are considered.

Also the roots are suffocating!

 

[JD3000]

I had 11 Kwanzan Flowering Cherry trees. A couple have died after bark split around trunk and a few others are beginning the same process. What might cause the bark splitting and peeling away..... and the tree then dying. Please view the accompanying photos.

Do a root collar excavation and find the flair, may be too deep. Look into "south west disease", Cytospora among other cankers, and especially winter cold damage. We lost quite a few members of Prunus from harsh winters here in central Ohio fairly recently.