Bark Peeling From Dogwood Tree - Ask Extension
Dogwood, 40 years old, about 20 ft tall. Noticed bark peeling couple of years ago. Bark is coming off main trunk ground-up on one side and on severa...
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Bark Peeling From Dogwood Tree #264648
Asked July 24, 2015, 8:11 PM EDT
Dogwood, 40 years old, about 20 ft tall. Noticed bark peeling couple of years ago. Bark is coming off main trunk ground-up on one side and on several branches. Symptoms have progressed. Full sun. Soil is clay (very poor) old septic field trench is underground uphill about 15 ft from it. No pesticides or fertilizers applied. What is causing the bark to peel? What can I do to save the tree? See pictures.
Prince George's County Maryland
Expert Response
Dogwoods can have many problems and stressors, and 40 years is long time.
Our IPM: Dogwoods publication will give you some ideas:
http://extension.umd.edu/sites/default/files/_images/programs/hgic/Publications/HG12_IPM_Series_Dogw...
Some of the stressors beget other problems, such as drought (we'd assume that getting water to these guys in times of drought is pretty difficult).
The fact that the bark is coming off suggests that the tree is in decline and dying, and the canopy of the one in the left of the photo is thinning.
Here is a page that helps you decide when to take a tree down:
http://extension.umd.edu/learn/how-do-you-decide-when-remove-tree
You could consider having a certified arborist do an on-site evaluation of tree health, and perhaps make recommendations on what they might do to prolong the life. An ISA arborist can be searched at www.treesaregood.org.
cm
Our IPM: Dogwoods publication will give you some ideas:
http://extension.umd.edu/sites/default/files/_images/programs/hgic/Publications/HG12_IPM_Series_Dogw...
Some of the stressors beget other problems, such as drought (we'd assume that getting water to these guys in times of drought is pretty difficult).
The fact that the bark is coming off suggests that the tree is in decline and dying, and the canopy of the one in the left of the photo is thinning.
Here is a page that helps you decide when to take a tree down:
http://extension.umd.edu/learn/how-do-you-decide-when-remove-tree
You could consider having a certified arborist do an on-site evaluation of tree health, and perhaps make recommendations on what they might do to prolong the life. An ISA arborist can be searched at www.treesaregood.org.
cm
