Strange bark removal from Ash tree - Ask Extension
We have an ash tree in the front, south, yard. There was a branch (small, lowest) that looked dead so I pruned it off, and that’s when I noticed thi...
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Strange bark removal from Ash tree #874120
Asked June 21, 2024, 5:02 PM EDT
We have an ash tree in the front, south, yard. There was a branch (small, lowest) that looked dead so I pruned it off, and that’s when I noticed this VERY strange bark removal. Do you know what may have caused this? I’m guessing it’s worrisome.
Douglas County Colorado
Expert Response
Hi Len,
I'm sorry to hear about your tree.
From what I can see in the photo, that is almost certainly the work of humans--the cleanness of the cut is telling.
The other remote possibility is that it is coincidentally associated with ash twig beetles, which tend to leave exit holes in straight lines that can, in some sense, perforate the bark and make it easy to remove along a straight line.
I hope this is helpful.
Cordially,
John
