Knowledgebase
Tree trunk problem #855447
Asked November 17, 2023, 1:11 PM EST
Scott County Minnesota
Expert Response
Hi Lori,
My response is to wait and see. This is not a fresh wound so there is nothing you can do. If the tree is really healthy it will form a scar and heal itself. I don't see any scar tissue. I would be watering that tree once a week until a hard freeze.
https://www.purdue.edu/fnr/extension/tree-wounds-and-healing/
Do you know how it lost it's bark ? Is it an insect problem ? If that is the case than it probably will only get worse. It sounds like it's in decline. It might be possible to treat it with a systemic insecticide if you know what bugs you are dealing with. What kind of tree is it ?
Sally Granath
St. Louis County MG
Hi Sally, This might be basswood. It would be nice to have pictures of its leaves. Steve
This tree drops a LOT of hard, round, small marble like seeds!
From: ask=<personal data hidden> <ask=<personal data hidden>> On Behalf Of Ask Extension
Sent: Saturday, November 18, 2023 1:28 PM
To: Nagel, Lori <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Tree trunk problem (#0125372)
Hi Lori,
Well, a fellow Master Gardener suggested this might be a basswood tree and from your latest information .......I'm thinking it's a basswood !
You may have Cytospora canker;
https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/cytospora-canker
This sight shows what the trunk damage can look like;
https://intermountainfruit.org/dbm/gummosis
It's not great news but, I hope it may help.
Sally Granath
St. Louis County MG
Well, I really appreciate this research you did!
Yes, it seems like this is the most likely culprit. I’m not sure how old this tree is, but I’m guessing it’s at least 30 years old. WE moved in here 7 years ago, and I’ve noticed the past few years, the foliage has become sparser. It’s sister tree, joined very close, has similar issues near the bottom of the trunk. It has good drainage, as a steep slope is nearby, but due to the landscaping near this tree, and the desire to not flood that landscaping too much, I may have not watered this tree as I should have.
I took the Sustainable Landscape Design class through the horticulture society and the U of M. What a wonderful class! I have big plans to plant many more natives, in addition to what I did last summer. But I knew these trees were not good, and wanted to address them before working hard on nearby landscaping.
Thank you again!!
~Lori
From: ask=<personal data hidden> <ask=<personal data hidden>> On Behalf Of Ask Extension
Sent: Monday, November 20, 2023 7:34 PM
To: Nagel, Lori <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Tree trunk problem (#0125372)
