Damage to trunk of tree - Ask Extension
I have submitted photos of a tree in our yard. One is of the whole tree. The other is of the base where the damage has occurred. It has worsened ov...
Knowledgebase
Damage to trunk of tree #894365
Asked March 13, 2025, 8:37 PM EDT
I have submitted photos of a tree in our yard. One is of the whole tree. The other is of the base where the damage has occurred. It has worsened over time. It almost seems like it has been damaged by a woodpecker or other animal. Can you tell me what is happening and whether the tree is still sound.
Montgomery County Maryland
Expert Response
What a beautiful, big old tree.
We can see the area of concern. It appears a narrow, elongated area of bark was damaged and there is a visible thickening of rounded callous tissue on either side where the tree was attempting to heal over the wound.
Unfortunately it was not able to completely cover it and the smooth area, including where the hole is dead, soft wood.
We can't tell from just looking at your photo how much internal rot there could be and we suggest having a certified arborist come and do an on-site assessment of the tree and its structural stability.
There can be clues to the overall health of the tree when seen with leaves in the growing season, for instance, is the leafy canopy full of normal-sized and colored leaves? Have you seen unusual shelf-like fungi or other mushrooms in summer or fall? Are there many dead limbs in the canopy? (Some types of trees also have more dense wood that is stronger than others.)
This page from our website can be helpful when deciding if it may be time to remove a tree:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/how-do-you-decide-when-remove-tree/
That said, given its proximity to your home it would be wise to have tree health experts, a.k.a. ISA-certified professional arborists come and assess whether the tree is a fall hazard in wind/storms. You can search for one at the credentialing agency at http://www.treesaregood.org. The ISA has a Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) that some arborists may have.
Christine
We can see the area of concern. It appears a narrow, elongated area of bark was damaged and there is a visible thickening of rounded callous tissue on either side where the tree was attempting to heal over the wound.
Unfortunately it was not able to completely cover it and the smooth area, including where the hole is dead, soft wood.
We can't tell from just looking at your photo how much internal rot there could be and we suggest having a certified arborist come and do an on-site assessment of the tree and its structural stability.
There can be clues to the overall health of the tree when seen with leaves in the growing season, for instance, is the leafy canopy full of normal-sized and colored leaves? Have you seen unusual shelf-like fungi or other mushrooms in summer or fall? Are there many dead limbs in the canopy? (Some types of trees also have more dense wood that is stronger than others.)
This page from our website can be helpful when deciding if it may be time to remove a tree:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/how-do-you-decide-when-remove-tree/
That said, given its proximity to your home it would be wise to have tree health experts, a.k.a. ISA-certified professional arborists come and assess whether the tree is a fall hazard in wind/storms. You can search for one at the credentialing agency at http://www.treesaregood.org. The ISA has a Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) that some arborists may have.
Christine
