You take pride in the health and safety of your trees. But with so many in your yard and various other lawn care matters to tend to, it can be challenging to know what’s going on with each one at all times. That’s why you were probably shocked to see one tree shedding its bark — first as a few tiny flakes and eventually in longer strips and chunks.
Seeing bark crumble like that might make you instantly think the worst, especially if you’ve never seen such a phenomenon before.
Is this tree going to fall over?
Is so much bark going to fall off that it will eventually look naked?
Do I need to call an arborist and have them remove it?
Your Tree Is Shedding Its Bark — What Gives?
As your friendly neighborhood tree service professional, we’ve seen countless examples of trees shedding their bark. Sometimes, that’s a good thing. Other times, it’s a sign that your tree is struggling big time and may need to be removed. We won’t know what’s happening with your specific tree until we can come out and give an honest assessment.
That said, here are a few reasons why your tree is shedding its bark:
- It’s growing — We like to say no two trees are the same. However, certain types of trees are known for shedding bark. Why do they do this? Simply put, it’s part of their natural growth process. It’s like your children … they’re eventually going to outgrow their shoes and shirts. As trees grow taller or expand, their clothes or skin (bark) will thicken up, crack, split, and peel off from the tree trunk to accommodate the growth and make way for a more vigorous tree within. What often freaks homeowners out is that they can now see the inner layer below. But it doesn’t always mean there’s a problem with your tree.
- Disease and infestation — If something still doesn’t seem right, you might want to inspect for disease and insect infestation. T fungus and other diseases attack a tree’s structural integrity and slowly cause it to decay and die. In other words, your tree is gradually being eaten away, which could be why it’s shedding its bark. The same is true for insects that may have made your tree their new home, and if this is allowed to happen long enough, there’s a good chance the tree could buckle and fall. A tree service professional can tell you for sure. Still, a few signs of a sick tree include abnormal growth, discoloration, unusual sogginess near the trunk, wilting leaves, dead and dying twigs, abnormal holes, dripping sap, fuzzy fungus, noticeable insects, etc.
- Extreme temperature shifts — Denton is known for extreme temperature shifts. One day, it could be sunny and 95; the next could be 30 degrees. Obviously, the weather can get significantly colder and hotter than that, which can lead to trees shedding their bark. Trees are highly susceptible to winter tree damage and summer drought.
Hopefully, you noticed that your tree is shedding its bark early enough to get it looked at by a trained professional. It could be that there’s nothing wrong. We certainly hope that’s the case. If the tree is sick but salvageable, your tree service pros will offer you a few options, such as using tree pruning techniques and anti-fungal treatments to remove or contain the fungi.
If you didn’t catch it early enough, your tree service professional will happily discuss removal options.
Call Clean Edge Tree Service & Removal Today!
We know you have options regarding your tree service and removal needs. Clean Edge Tree Service & Removal in Denton, TX, is family-owned and operated and has served Denton and surrounding areas since 2016. More importantly, we have the equipment, experience, and technical know-how to safely and efficiently handle any tree and residential or commercial scenario — from a downed tree in the middle of a storm to trimming a few branches, stump grinding, and removing trees that tower 83 feet in the air.
There isn’t a tree in Denton that we can’t handle. Call Clean Edge Tree Service & Removal today!
