Thank you for your question and the terrific pictures.

Unfortunately the rapid temperature changes we experienced this spring in El Paso County can weaken all tree and shrub bark. When the bark splits it is one of two things frost cracking or sunscald.

I think you will find this link very helpful. Please carefully read it and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us again.

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/02932.html

Thank you.

Thanks for the article. Good info for prevention. So there's nothing I can do to help healing process now? Wrap the trunk with something? Will it heal entirely? Or hard to say? Leaf growth just emerging.

Once frost injury has occurred, nothing can be done.

There has been a lot of research on this subjuct. One thing you should not do is paint or try to seal a split with paint or tar.

This tracing technique has proven some success. Tracing the bark around the split can be very helpful in aiding wound healing. With a sharp knife, starting from one end of the split, trace around one side of the wound, about 1/2 to 1 inch back from the split bark. Stop at the other end and do the same procedure on the opposite side of the split. Knives should be sterilized between cuts by dipping for several minutes in a 1:10, bleach/water solution or a 70% alcohol solution to avoid contaminating the cuts. Carefully remove the bark from inside the traced area. You should now have a bare area. Remember to leave this untreated. A shrub growing with good vigor usually calluses over quickest. Encourage vigor in the shrub with yearly spring fertilizer applications and be sure to provide adequate irrigation in hot, dry weather. Bark splits will often close over completely, leaving a slight ridge in the trunk where callus tissue has been produced.

This is not guaranteed to work as there are many factors with regards to the plants health, but it is worth a try. 

Thanks for your previous responses. I cut 1/2 inch from side of original tears. Now, see photo, the piece in between has fallen off (or been torn off) and there is a split higher up the trunk. Can you tell if this is due to animals? I have raccoons, squirrels and cats in the yard. Also, do you have suggestions on how to rid the yard of raccoons? I have sprayed areas where I found their scat w a jalapeño, onion broth which seems to have worked. Wondering if I can spray under the back porch (an areas hard to block off)

To clarify, wondering if by spraying this smelly liquid under the porch, which I can't get to physically, if that would scare them away sufficiently.

Thank you for your question.

Here is a link from CSU regarding raccoons.

http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/4DMG/Pests/animal.htm

This is terrible damage to your Rose of Sharon. I hope you rid the animals from your yard.