White ring around base of sweet gum tree

[BuckmasterTreeService]

I cleared out the mulch volcano around the base of a sweet gum tree a few months ago and removed a girdling root. Now the tree looks like this.

 

[BuckmasterTreeService]

 

[BuckmasterTreeService]

What is the white powder?

 

[JD3000]

Because the newly exposed bark doesn't have moss, lichens, and other things growing on it like the bark that's been above grade for it's lifespan.

 

[guymayor]

andor there is a bark fungus that found fresh meaty bark to colonise.

 

[southsoundtree]

Still need to excavate deeper?

 

[JD3000]

And get that fabric outta there!

 

[guymayor]

There's one SGR in the foreground. You found the top of the flare, but sometimes you must find the root collar.