Dawn redwood - Ask Extension
the bark is pulling away from the trunk with empty space between the flat surface and bark. This dawn redwood has been planted for several years and t...
Knowledgebase
Dawn redwood #259771
Asked July 06, 2015, 9:16 PM EDT
the bark is pulling away from the trunk with empty space between the flat surface and bark. This dawn redwood has been planted for several years and this problem is growing. Is there anything we can do to help cure this problem? Thank you for any advice.
Pike County Ohio
Expert Response
Dear gardener,
Thank you for contacting us. A certain amount of exfoliation is normal in the species, so you need to determine if this is something beyond that. Can you send us some digital photos of the shedding bark as well as the bark that is intact? Also, is there a new layer of growth in the areas where the bark has shed?
Thank you for contacting us. A certain amount of exfoliation is normal in the species, so you need to determine if this is something beyond that. Can you send us some digital photos of the shedding bark as well as the bark that is intact? Also, is there a new layer of growth in the areas where the bark has shed?
Dear gardener,
Thanks for sending the photos. Would you be able to take a couple more? It would be very helpful to see the base of the tree where it meets the soil, and also the foliage canopy.
A couple of questions, too: Do you have deer in the area? One possibility is buck-rub. Also, is the damage all on one side? Which direction does the damage face? Sunscald is another possibility. A third possibility is the planting depth. Try to wiggle the tree (yes, I know it's big.) Many time trees die suddenly, years after they were planted too deeply.
The photos and answers would give a good indication of the likely cause. I hope to hear from you again. Just reply to this email and it will be routed to me.
Thanks for sending the photos. Would you be able to take a couple more? It would be very helpful to see the base of the tree where it meets the soil, and also the foliage canopy.
A couple of questions, too: Do you have deer in the area? One possibility is buck-rub. Also, is the damage all on one side? Which direction does the damage face? Sunscald is another possibility. A third possibility is the planting depth. Try to wiggle the tree (yes, I know it's big.) Many time trees die suddenly, years after they were planted too deeply.
The photos and answers would give a good indication of the likely cause. I hope to hear from you again. Just reply to this email and it will be routed to me.
Thank you, yes we have deer but never this close to the house. The dogs keep them away. The damage is on the west side moving to the north. The tree was planted 1-31-2012 by a nursery and has always lacked upper branches on the damaged side. My guess is overcrowding which I hoped it would correct itself. I get very little movement when wiggled. Thank you so much for your time!
Dear gardener,
Thanks for the additional photos. It sounds like the tree may have been damaged before you got it, which accounts for the uneven canopy. It was also planted too deeply. The trunk should flare out where it meets the ground, but yours seems to go straight down like a telephone pole. This can cause the bark to rot. I suggest you gently pull away any mulch near the trunk (mulch should always be kept several inches away from the trunk). Also, trees do not do well when the roots have to compete with grass. It would be a good idea to remove the turf within the drip line and cover the soil with several inches of wood mulch instead.
As for the bark exfoliation, I have consulted with several experts but there seems to be no consensus. Dawn redwoods do have a certain amount of exfoliating bark, but your tree looks like it was damaged somehow (lightening, deer, equipment, or other.) You can take a "wait and see" approach, or contact the nursery that sold you the tree. They may be willing to credit a portion of a replacement.
I'm sorry that I don't have a more definite answer about the peeling bark.
Thanks for the additional photos. It sounds like the tree may have been damaged before you got it, which accounts for the uneven canopy. It was also planted too deeply. The trunk should flare out where it meets the ground, but yours seems to go straight down like a telephone pole. This can cause the bark to rot. I suggest you gently pull away any mulch near the trunk (mulch should always be kept several inches away from the trunk). Also, trees do not do well when the roots have to compete with grass. It would be a good idea to remove the turf within the drip line and cover the soil with several inches of wood mulch instead.
As for the bark exfoliation, I have consulted with several experts but there seems to be no consensus. Dawn redwoods do have a certain amount of exfoliating bark, but your tree looks like it was damaged somehow (lightening, deer, equipment, or other.) You can take a "wait and see" approach, or contact the nursery that sold you the tree. They may be willing to credit a portion of a replacement.
I'm sorry that I don't have a more definite answer about the peeling bark.
