Bark peeling off honey locust tree - Ask Extension
The bark has started peeling off of my very large honey locust tree. It was last examined 10 months ago by an arborist and pruned, and all seemed to b...
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Bark peeling off honey locust tree #857972
Asked January 27, 2024, 7:23 PM EST
The bark has started peeling off of my very large honey locust tree. It was last examined 10 months ago by an arborist and pruned, and all seemed to be fine, and it leafed out completely fine all last summer. But now the bark is peeling off in large chunks, and there’s a bit of sawdust at the bottom (though that may be from woodpeckers). What could be causing this and what should I do?
Denver County Colorado
Expert Response
It appears this has been an ongoing problem causing the bark to peel.
The holes in the wood and the sawdust could be indicative of insects called borers. Woodpeckers can cause holes as well, as they are trying to get insects under the bark. It looks like this is a large mature tree, which can take some insect damage in the short run, which is why you saw the tree leaf out. I recommend you consult your arborist again to determine whether this problem is effecting the tree's health and how to treat it if necessary.
The holes in the wood and the sawdust could be indicative of insects called borers. Woodpeckers can cause holes as well, as they are trying to get insects under the bark. It looks like this is a large mature tree, which can take some insect damage in the short run, which is why you saw the tree leaf out. I recommend you consult your arborist again to determine whether this problem is effecting the tree's health and how to treat it if necessary.
