Split Bark on a Red Maple Tree Problem

Frost

• Frost frequently causes split bark. This occurs when trees are subjected to rapid thawing after severe cold during late winter or early spring. The damage is referred to as frost-cracks. The cracks often start from a site of previous damage to inner tree wood. Trees growing in areas of high humidity and those over-fertilized with nitrogen are more prone to frost cracks.

Sudden Growth

• Sporadic growth patterns cause bark splitting. When slow-growing trees subjected to drought are suddenly irrigated well and provided ideal growing conditions, the sudden spurt in growth causes barks to split.

Sunscald

• Sunscald common occurs during winter and damages thin barked or younger trees. Tree bark that splits due to sunscald starts to peel away in the following summer. You can avoid sunscald by reducing heavy pruning of dense canopies. Reducing limbs gradually makes trees less prone to sunscald.