Hackberry bark/tree damage!? - Ask Extension
Hello,I have a Hackberry that is in it's third year of growth in my yard. I just noticed several areas where the bark appears to have been stripped ...
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Hackberry bark/tree damage!? #701109
Asked July 15, 2020, 1:32 PM EDT
Hello,
I have a Hackberry that is in it's third year of growth in my yard. I just noticed several areas where the bark appears to have been stripped away. There is no damage lower, but at about 4 feet there are a couple of areas a few inches long. Higher up in the crown there are a couple of sections about a foot long on one side of the tree where the bark had been stripped. I am not a tree expert, but this doesn't seem good to me. The tree is otherwise healthy as far as I know. I have the usual suburban squirrels, but have never seen one up or on the tree and there is no damage down lower. I've not noticed any insects. And the only birds I've seen in the tree are infrequent Chickadees. I am hoping this might not be serious, but would really like to save the tree and have it be healthy. Can you help, please?
Thank you very much.
Roger Rouch
I have a Hackberry that is in it's third year of growth in my yard. I just noticed several areas where the bark appears to have been stripped away. There is no damage lower, but at about 4 feet there are a couple of areas a few inches long. Higher up in the crown there are a couple of sections about a foot long on one side of the tree where the bark had been stripped. I am not a tree expert, but this doesn't seem good to me. The tree is otherwise healthy as far as I know. I have the usual suburban squirrels, but have never seen one up or on the tree and there is no damage down lower. I've not noticed any insects. And the only birds I've seen in the tree are infrequent Chickadees. I am hoping this might not be serious, but would really like to save the tree and have it be healthy. Can you help, please?
Thank you very much.
Roger Rouch
Jefferson County Colorado
Expert Response
Hackberry is a tough tree that can survive in difficult situations. The damage on the main trunk looks mechanical, although what caused it is difficult to say. I have seen the type of damage near the top of the tree caused by squirrels. I have a tree in front of my house where the squirrels have taken the bark of half the limb and the tree is fine. I can find no information on diseases that bother hackberry trees. Also you tree appears to be healthy even above the damage. Watch the tree but is should be fine.
