Hello all,
I was just outside checking things out and was shocked to see this going on with my dogwood tree. Can anyone offer any advice as to what is happening and what I should do? As you can see, the bark in several areas looks to be either peeled off like a wound or splitting apart in a line a good way up the trunk. What is happening? I know absolutely nothing about garden pests.... My neighbor suggested it is from a boring bug of some kind? I don't recall seeing this last summer though it is on the backside that I can't see easily. The tree was planted about 30 years ago. It has healthy looking buds on all the branches and looks fine other than the bark. Please help.... (Thank you.)
Yes, this is helpful Eileen. Thank you. After reading this, I feel a little better. The post described a couple of possible causes and the wounds are on the southwest side of the tree only, which jives with the "frost crack" or "southwest injury" described. I wouldn't even have seen them except I was in my back fence neighbor's yard... It just looks so awful to me but sounds like maybe not as worrisome as I imagined. Totally caught me off guard. I am so glad I could quickly ask for council from the Garden Stew experts.
PS Eileen, I will be sure and have some "encouraging chats" with my dogwood while I'm watching over the healing process.
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