Split tree trunk from winter - Knowledgebase Question - Garden.org

Castle Rock, CO

Question by missyjonson
June 4, 2007

We have a 1.5 year old Mountain Ash tree in our front yard and we had a really long winter. At the bottom of the tree trunk it is spliting vertically. The cut is about 12 inches long and half an inch wide. We sprayed a tree sap type tar on the trunk as suggested by Home Depot Garden Center employees. Is this all we need to do to make sure that our new tree doesn't die?? Thanks so much!!

Answer from NGA
June 4, 2007

0	Bark splitting is usually the result of winter sun directly hitting frozen tissue. The sun expands the inner tissue and the bark splits because of the expansion. There's not much you can do once it has happened - healthy trees will callous over the wound all on their own, but you can try to prevent it by using a tree trunk wrap (usually perforated hard plastic that you wrap loosely around the trunk). All you can do at this point is wait and watch. I hope you see some improvement this summer as the tree attempts to close the injury. Best wishes with your ash tree!

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