{"id":52332,"date":"2024-06-21T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-21T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/3dadstreeservice.com\/?p=52332"},"modified":"2026-11-05T16:03:12","modified_gmt":"2026-11-06T00:03:12","slug":"why-is-the-bark-on-my-tree-splitting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/3dadstreeservice.the360tools.com\/?p=52332","title":{"rendered":"Why Is the Bark on My Tree Splitting in McKinleyville, CA?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you care about the health of your trees, you\u2019ll want an explanation for any issues you spot on it. Seeing a split down the bark of the tree will have you scratching your head \u2014 and in some cases, it may even be a sign of a rotten tree<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the top choice for ultimate tree services in McKinleyville<\/a>, many people call us to ask, \u201cWhy is the bark on my tree splitting?\u201d We\u2019ll look at some of the most common causes in this post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"why<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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The Top Causes of Bark Splitting in Trees<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The split in the tree bark is often down to any of the following reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sharp Temperature Fluctuations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When temperatures drop suddenly during the peak of winter, the bark (which bears all the brunt) will contract faster than the inner wood, causing a split. However, since we don\u2019t get freezing temperatures here in McKinleyville, winter cracks are highly unlikely (but not impossible).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunscald<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sunscald happens when a tree facing direct sunlight and intense heat during the day cools suddenly at night. Sunscald mostly affects the southern and southwestern sides of the tree. The severity will depend on the type of bark<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Animal Damage<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Do you get a lot of rodents around the tree? Do you have pets? If you answered yes to any of those questions, then you have your answer to the question, \u201cWhy is the bark on my tree splitting?\u201d Animals rubbing against tree trunks or chewing on them can lead to cracks and splits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pests and Diseases<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Various pests and tree diseases that can cause root damage also can make the bark split. For example, fungal infections such as cankers can damage the root system and create weak spots in the bark. Borers can also burrow into the bark in their hunt for shelter and food. The result is weaker bark structure and lots of splits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sudden Growth<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You want your tree to grow as fast as possible, but if you push it too much, the bark might split because it can\u2019t keep up with the expansion of the inner wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can\u2019t do anything about favorable weather conditions causing a sudden growth spurt in your trees, but you can help ensure more measured growth by avoiding excessive fertilization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Can You Do About a Split in the Bark of Your Trees?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first thing you should do, is to check out the split to ensure it\u2019s not due to pest or disease. The split will only remain an aesthetic concern in healthy trees. However, you have to take steps to ensure it doesn\u2019t act as an entry for diseases and pests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remove any loose bark and cut a clean circle around the split to keep the area neat. This will help encourage the natural healing process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get Expert Help From Your Local Pros in McKinleyville, CA<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Are you still wondering, \u201cWhy is the bark on my tree splitting?\u201d Are you concerned about the size of the split and whether you\u2019ll need to plan tree removal? Have other questions, like, “Do trees die of old age<\/a>?” Call the 3 Dads Tree Service team at (707) 506-6602<\/a> to schedule a consultation. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you care about the health of your trees, you\u2019ll want an explanation for any issues you spot on it. Seeing a split down the bark of the tree will have you scratching your head \u2014 and in some cases, it may even be a sign of a rotten tree. As the top choice for ultimate […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[150,220,223,264,288,319],"class_list":["post-52332","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general-tree-related-tips","tag-healthy-trees","tag-root-damage","tag-root-system","tag-tree-diseases","tag-tree-removal","tag-tree-trunks"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/3dadstreeservice.the360tools.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52332","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/3dadstreeservice.the360tools.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/3dadstreeservice.the360tools.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/3dadstreeservice.the360tools.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/3dadstreeservice.the360tools.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=52332"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/3dadstreeservice.the360tools.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52332\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":53631,"href":"https:\/\/3dadstreeservice.the360tools.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52332\/revisions\/53631"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/3dadstreeservice.the360tools.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=52332"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/3dadstreeservice.the360tools.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=52332"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/3dadstreeservice.the360tools.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=52332"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}