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Trunk on Cherry Tree Splitting Open #742213

Asked April 02, 2021, 6:16 PM EDT

hi - we have an ornamental cherry tree - not sure what kind. A year or so ago, I notice a vertical split deep into the trunk. This year there are more splits. Any ideas what is wrong? What can I do to save the tree? The tree appears to be doing well otherwise . It is in bloom now.

St. Mary's County Maryland

Expert Response

There are a number of potential causes for bark cracking/splitting, and it may not be possible to determine the original reason, especially since these wounds don't appear very fresh. This page goes into some of the common phenomena: https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/frost-cracks-sunscald-growth-cracks

It wouldn't hurt to have the tree evaluated by a certified arborist, either now or in the future if any worrying symptoms develop. (That said, once symptoms become blatant, sometimes little intervention is possible.) If you are interested in doing this, the second and third links on this page lead to arborist search tools: https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/how-do-you-decide-when-remove-tree

We suggest you keep an eye on the gummosis (sap oozing) on the trunk; this can be fairly harmless in cherries and triggered by a range of environmental stress factors, but they can also indicate more serious issues with wood-boring insects or pathogens in the sapwood. Here are a few of the triggers for gummosis in cherries; this is not to say this is definitively what's happening here, but they are issues to be aware of and monitor for going forward:
https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/borers-trees

https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/stone-fruit-insects (item #3 on this page)

https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/diseases-stone-fruit (item #4 on this page)

If canopy growth (when the tree is leafed-out in late spring and summer) seems normal and not stunted, patchy, or off-color, then the current symptoms may be more cosmetic than concerning.

Miri

Thank you!

On Apr 5, 2021, at 9:54 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

The Question Asker Replied April 05, 2021, 11:42 AM EDT

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