Vertical bark splitting-green giant

[macrocarpa]

I planted four green giants for a customer a few years ago and all of them have vertical bark splitting uniformly around the same location on the Lower 5 feet of trunk, mostly on the south/west side.

Perfect root flares exposed. (every time I say root flares on voice dictation it comes up “Ric Flair’s” lol)

Sunscald/splitting from freezing and thawing is what I think it is and I hope it’s not a canker? If it were a canker, would they really all develop it at the exact same location at the same time?

We had some late freezing this spring and we had a -30 windchill around Christmas.

Any recommendations for boosting overall health? I don’t know if fertilizing would help or hurt?

 

[RogerM]

trunk diameter? not torsion? is the bark on the right completely separated? dang, any possibility of mechanical damage, maybe intentional.. just looks so significant, could be from the picture angle.

 

[macrocarpa]

trunk diameter? not torsion? is the bark on the right completely separated? dang, any possibility of mechanical damage, maybe intentional.. just looks so significant, could be from the picture angle.

It is significant unfortunately. I just hope there’s plenty of intact vascularity left.

These are between three 3-4 inch dbh.

It’s not torsion or mechanical damage.

I’ve planted a bunch of these and never had this problem before.

 

[ATH]

I had some delivered from nursery like that a couple of years ago. When I called them, they said they thought they had pulled them all. They knew that happened on an outside row that got an extra artic blast the previous winter. IIRC, there were 2 or 3 that we planted and had to replace 1 (they replaced the tree).

 

[macrocarpa]

I had some delivered from nursery like that a couple of years ago. When I called them, they said they thought they had pulled them all. They knew that happened on an outside row that got an extra artic blast the previous winter. IIRC, there were 2 or 3 that we planted and had to replace 1 (they replaced the tree).

Arctic blast sounds like the culprit….When we got that cold snap around Christmas one of my kitchen windows even cracked!

I just hope they can recover. They are big and providing privacy now.

 

[macrocarpa]

Just a follow up on this post. Some of the splits totally closed over and the worst ones hopefully will be closed by the end of this growing season.

I’m definitely convinced it was the Arctic blast we had that winter that cracked my kitchen window.

 

[ATH]

Thanks for the follow up. Too frequently these questions get forgotten and we don't know how they turn out. Glad you followed up!

 

[ATH]

PS: did you fertilize?

 

[GregManning]

Dawn Redwood DBH 8-9"; vertical bark splitting w/ subsequent healing over for last 2 years ! (NE Ohio)

 

[macrocarpa]

Dawn Redwood DBH 8-9"; vertical bark splitting w/ subsequent healing over for last 2 years ! (NE Ohio)

View attachment 98247
View attachment 98248
View attachment 98249

I’ve noticed dawn redwood are susceptible to winter damage in Ohio as well. Sometimes they almost look stunted.

 

[macrocarpa]

PS: did you fertilize?

Yep. 18-3-6 + NutriRoot

 

[GregManning]

I’ve noticed dawn redwood are susceptible to winter damage in Ohio as well. Sometimes they almost look stunted.

I don't think this was winter damage.
I noticed the initial damage during both 2 years during the normal summer growing season.

Actually, I think the splitting is continuing; but it does seem to be healing over ! ! !

 

[Evo]

I don't think this was winter damage.
I noticed the initial damage during both 2 years during the normal summer growing season.

Actually, I think the splitting is continuing; but it does seem to be healing over ! ! !

What is the aspect of the sloughed bark?
@macrocarpa
Western red cedar is pretty cold tolerant it does have a few beetles that can cause some damage

 

[GregManning]

What is the aspect of the sloughed bark?
@macrocarpa
Western red cedar is pretty cold tolerant it does have a few beetles that can cause some damage

I don't understand the term "aspect of the sloughed bark".

Initially, the bark just seems to be peel away from the wood intact. Many months later I see healing over the exposed area.
So far, I have not removed any of the peeling bark. Just leaving it to develop.

 

[Evo]

I don't understand the term "aspect of the sloughed bark".

Initially, the bark just seems to be peel away from the wood intact. Many months later I see healing over the exposed area.
So far, I have not removed any of the peeling bark. Just leaving it to develop.

What compass direction does the injury face?

 

[GregManning]

What compass direction does the injury face?

Damage Direction is on South.
Harsh winter winds are from the NE.

 

[macrocarpa]

What is the aspect of the sloughed bark?
@macrocarpa
Western red cedar is pretty cold tolerant it does have a few beetles that can cause some damage

Southwest

 

[Evo]

Damage Direction is on South.
Harsh winter winds are from the NE.

That can be pretty consistent with sunscald. Times of year with wild temperature swings, where the cambium activates with the warm days then gets shock killed when temps dramatically drop at night.
That would also explain why it seems to worsen with successive years/seasons

 

[macrocarpa]

Just a follow up, visited these trees yesterday and the wounds are totally closed over. I was worried initially since this is my go to evergreen.