The bark is cracking on the apple tree.

The appearance of cracks in the bark always causes great concern for many summer residents. If you do not take the necessary measures on time, then the tree may not only deteriorate the quantity and quality of the harvest, but the life of the tree itself will also be in jeopardy. The disease can spread to other trees growing in the area. Moreover, the infection can spread throughout the garden in a very short period of time, causing great harm to the trees. After reading this article, you can find out what are the reasons for the occurrence of cracks of a different nature on trees, how this can be avoided and how to deal with this situation. So, what to do if the apple tree bark is cracked.

Causes of cracks in the bark of a tree.

There can be many reasons for cracks that can appear on the bark of a tree. Consider the most common among summer residents and how this can threaten the tree. The bark of an apple tree begins to crack and at the same time it begins:

Get wet.

The reasons why the bark of an apple tree begins to get wet and crack at the same time can be completely different. Most often, summer residents talk about improper tree pruning, improper treatment and disinfection of the resulting wound. The bark of an apple tree can begin to rot after a large amount of water, various microbes, viruses or fungus has got into it as a result of their getting from the air to a poorly processed cut site.

Blacken.

If the trunk of the apple tree began not only to crack, but also to turn black, then this may indicate that the tree has become a carrier of such a disease as black cancer. At the same time, the bark of the tree begins to flake off, the black wood of the tree is exposed. The spread of the disease occurs on the branches and crown. Unfortunately, the tree dies in 3-4 years. If you can't start saving the tree as early as possible, then it simply dies.

Peel off.

Cracks and simultaneous bark detachment can be caused by many reasons. It can be sudden changes in daytime and nighttime temperatures. the bark of the tree begins to lose its elasticity, as a result of which cracks begin to appear on the bark. But the influence of extreme cold, direct sunlight, the best, fungal disease can lead to transverse cracking of the bark, which can destroy the tree.

Fruits burst and begin to dry.

If the bark of the apple tree begins to burst, then this may indicate that the tree is experiencing a lack of nutrients, and this also affects the fruits of the apple tree themselves, they begin to dry. If the bark has been significantly damaged, then the beneficial elements will not be able to reach the fruit. Wounds on the tree can be the result of improper pruning, as well as if the tree is frozen after severe winter frosts.

Peeling off the bark and the presence of yellow lichen.

The older the apple tree is, the more it risks being exposed to yellow lichen. It most often manifests itself on the trunk and branches in conditions of high humidity and low temperatures. lichen can be white to yellow in color. At the same time, the spread is very fast. If you do not remove it, then various fungal diseases can develop, which can lead to the fact that the bark of the apple tree begins to decompose.

The bark of the apple tree cracks with the arrival of August.

If the summer period turned out to be dry, then with the onset of August and rains, increased growth of wood begins. This causes the bark of the tree to crackle. The bark begins to lose its elasticity, which leads to crackling along the tree trunks. Such wounds do not pose a serious danger; they can be treated with a 3-5% solution of ferrous sulfate.The trunk of a tree can be whitewashed by adding 100-300 ml of ferrous sulfate to 10 liters of paint.

In the springtime.

Most often, the crust begins to crack with the onset of spring, when air temperature fluctuations very often occur. When the weather is clear, the trunk starts to heat up. The trunk gets sunburn, there is a violation of the structure of the tissues. Such damage can lead to the fact that the death of entire sections of the cortex can occur. This situation is possible if the soil is too wet or the seedling was planted deep enough. Moreover, if grade has a weak frost resistance.

What to do if cracks appear on the bark.

We carry out proper wood care.

There can be a large number of reasons why bark crackling occurs. If there are few wounds on a tree, then the tree does not really need help, he will be able to heal himself. But if there is a lot of damage, then the tree may die. In this case, you need to carry out a number of actions that will be aimed at improving the health of the tree. The place that was damaged must be treated with disinfectants. This must be done very carefully so as not to harm the healthy bark. After you clean them, you need to treat them with a solution of potassium permanganate, take brilliant green or hydrogen peroxide. After they dry up, it is necessary to cover it up with a garden varnish, wind it with black polyethylene, you can take burlap or other unnecessary fabric in several layers so that an infection does not get. This treatment will help in wound healing. The tree rebuilding process will start and the cuts will start to overgrow. Those fragments of bark that you clean up must be removed from the site.

Does the apple tree need replanting.

Most often, the bark begins to crack in older apple trees. But such a tree does not need replanting, even if the tree trunk has bark diseases. Transplanting an adult plant is not an easy task. And the fact that a sick tree can quickly take root in new conditions will not be crowned with success, so your actions will be in vain. If a diseased tree is very old, then replanting it can lead to the death of the tree. It is best to plant new seedlings. But if you really want to save your beloved apple tree, you can try to do it. If the crackling occurs near a branch, then such a branch must be cut off. This can save the tree from further spreading the infection, as well as create a rejuvenating effect.

Is it possible to save an old apple tree.

Like any other organism, the tree can also age and be subject to various diseases. It is in old age that the bark of trees can undergo peeling and crackling of the bark. Based on the severity of the disease, it is important to take measures that will help save your tree. If a small area of ​​the bark has been damaged by the disease, then it can be cleaned with a metal brush. It must first be disinfected and carefully removed the bark that remains.

By removing the bark, you can also remove pests.

Then you can whitewash the cleaned places with thick lime. Also, as a preventive measure, you can whitewash other parts of the tree to avoid infection with various diseases. It is permissible to add mullein to lime to create a strengthening effect for the whole tree. If the lesion is already extensive, then the affected fragments of the tree must be cut off; do not forget about processing the cuts with a garden varnish in order to protect the tree from various diseases and insects.

Control measures against bark beetle.

It is insects that pose a great danger to plants. The most dangerous are those under the bark. One of these dangerous insects is the bark beetle. Its appearance can not only weaken the tree, but also lead to its death.They choose those trees that are already weakened, which have sunburn damage, various wounds and cracks. It is very difficult to fight them, since they live just under the bark of the tree. Depending on how damaged the tree is and measures are taken to combat the bark beetle. If the bark beetle has already damaged the bark of a tree in many places, while it is easy to observe the presence of pest moves, you notice that the tree has become weak, then it is unlikely that such a tree can be saved. Such a tree must be removed from the site. At the same time, pay attention to other trees that you have on the site. if the tree is damaged in only a few places, and the tree is doing well, then you can start applying measures that will help get rid of the insect. The following drugs should be poured into the holes formed with a syringe:

• Calypso.
• Antizhuk
• Antishashelin

.Wait until the preparation is absorbed, and then again carry out the treatment with a garden varnish.

We whitewash the tree.

Many people talk about the need to whitewash the trunk as a preventive measure against crackling of the bark, especially in old trees. But this procedure also has its own rules, which must be followed in order to get the desired effect.Under the crown of the tree, it is imperative to lay an oilcloth or unnecessary fabric.

With the help of special tools, clean the trunk from the obsolete bark.

Treat the cleaned areas with a garden varnish.

Start whitewashing by adding lime. You need to whitewash the cleaned places and the tree trunk.

All garbage must be collected and either burned or removed from the site.

Bark problems.

Young apple trees.

Bark problems in young trees can arise for various reasons. Cracks can serve as a defeat for various infections.

As a fight, you can perform a number of actions:

• Cut off the emerging crack to a healthy fragment (no more than 2 cm deep).
• Treat with copper or iron sulfate.
• Take special grease for lubrication.
• Whitewash the trunk.
• Collect all rubbish in the area.
• Dig the soil around the trunk before the start of the winter season.
• Before spring flowering begins, it is necessary to make a top dressing containing boron and magnesium.

At the seedlings.

Cracking of the bark is characteristic of those seedlings that grow in too moist soil, are deeply planted or too much fertilizer has been applied, as well as those that do not tolerate winter frosts very well. In addition, it should be clarified that when active growth is observed, the trunk thickens, while the bark of a young tree begins to stretch and burst. To remedy the situation, using a sharp knife, you need to make longitudinal cuts on the bark on the table. After the measures taken, the incisions begin to overgrow.

The appearance of cracks in the bark at the very base of the trunk of young apple trees.

In young apple trees, in August, the bark may begin to crack right at the very base. What is the reason for this? The thing is that, if the summer days turned out to be dry, then when the rainy season begins, the wood begins to grow actively. In turn, the bark has ended its seasonal growth, and it begins to lose its elasticity. This situation can adversely affect the tree during the winter period. the bark of the apple tree begins to crack. That can also put a summer resident in a difficult position, who does not know how to fix the situation. If a tree trunk is dug in with a small amount of earth, then debate can begin, and this will lead to spring peeling of the bark. If you do not do this, then those parts of the tree that were bare may freeze in winter. It is for this reason that in spring it is necessary to process the detachment points using a garden pitch.With the onset of winter, it is necessary to huddle using snow.

Conclusion

After reading this article, it should have become clear to you that even a beginner can fight cracks in the bark.

Knowing some of the nuances, you can know exactly what to do, noticing the formation of cracks in the bark. But it is better to take preventive measures so as not to find yourself in a difficult situation. It is best to follow these rules:

• Conduct sanitary pruning, removing unnecessary and diseased branches.
• Remove debris and excess leaves from the site.
• Carry out the processing of trees on time.
• Monitor the condition of the crown.
• Treat wounds with copper sulfate.
• Watering and fertilizing.

By following these rules, your trees will always be healthy.