Sick Tree - Ask Extension
Hi there - I believe my tree is very sick. The bark is falling off on the north side of the trunk. The bark looks wet and it has insects all over it. ...
Knowledgebase
Sick Tree #873728
Asked June 18, 2024, 11:06 PM EDT
Hi there - I believe my tree is very sick. The bark is falling off on the north side of the trunk. The bark looks wet and it has insects all over it. The leaves are healthy, but I know that doesn’t mean the tree is healthy. Something is wrong and we’d like to try to save it / help it get better if possible.
Ingham County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello,
Yes, that is a nasty wound. You can see the tree is trying to "heal" on either side (that is the light brown bark that looks like a long roll). You can wait it out and give the tree care to help it along. This means water during dry periods, and making sure there is good drainage in the area so that the tree is not standing in water after rain events. Pulling any weeds from under the tree and laying down a few inches (away from the trunk- and not deeper than 3 inches!) might also be helpful. Mature trees do not typically need fertilization, but if a soil test is done and you find you need to fertilize, waiting until after the first freeze but before the ground freezes is the best time to fertilize. (Get a soil test here:https://homesoiltest.msu.edu/)
Alternatively, you could consult an arborist to come to the site. They may decide to cut away some of the diseased tissue to facilitate the healing. Always consult an ISA-certified arborist, especially for things like this. (Find one here: https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist)
Here is an article that discusses tree cankers and their causes.
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/cankers-trees-and-shrubs/
I hope this is helpful.
Thank you for contacting Ask Extension.
Ruth
Yes, that is a nasty wound. You can see the tree is trying to "heal" on either side (that is the light brown bark that looks like a long roll). You can wait it out and give the tree care to help it along. This means water during dry periods, and making sure there is good drainage in the area so that the tree is not standing in water after rain events. Pulling any weeds from under the tree and laying down a few inches (away from the trunk- and not deeper than 3 inches!) might also be helpful. Mature trees do not typically need fertilization, but if a soil test is done and you find you need to fertilize, waiting until after the first freeze but before the ground freezes is the best time to fertilize. (Get a soil test here:https://homesoiltest.msu.edu/)
Alternatively, you could consult an arborist to come to the site. They may decide to cut away some of the diseased tissue to facilitate the healing. Always consult an ISA-certified arborist, especially for things like this. (Find one here: https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist)
Here is an article that discusses tree cankers and their causes.
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/cankers-trees-and-shrubs/
I hope this is helpful.
Thank you for contacting Ask Extension.
Ruth
