Can a leaning tree cause bark loss?

4 years ago

One of our very tall and beautiful ponderosa pines has been losing bark at the base, mainly on one side. The tree is leaning in the direction of the bark loss, and I wonder if that could be what is causing the tree to shed pieces of bark. You can see it leaning to the left in the photo, and the main bark loss is at the base where the tree is leaning. If the leaning is causing the bark loss, does anyone know if the tree will be okay or if there is anything we can do for it?

For a while we thought it might be due to animals or insects, and I posted a thread about this about half a year ago, asking if turkeys might be the cause of the bark loss (thread title is "Can turkeys harm ponderosa pine trees by pecking at the bark?"), and although they forage near the tree, we haven't seen them pecking at the base of that tree.

Featured Answer

ViburnumValley central KY Bluegrass z6

4 years ago

Clear insect damage, from at least 6 months ago, but refusal to reference horticultural or arboricultural expertise in favor of a game warden. What is the resistance to information/advice about the tree's problem, rather than an extenuating symptom due to animal interaction? No pictures of the trunk either, close up, for a visualization of the actual damage.

A cooperative extension service agent can provide plant pathology and entomological analysis of whatever this problem is. All statements and evidence provided so far point to some insect or other pathogen attacking this tree. Delay means another season of further damage.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Any reason you don’t think its some sort of borer? The lean would not cause what you showed here…

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/6171049/can-turkeys-harm-ponderosa-pine-trees-by-pecking-at-the-bark#n=11

tj
bengz6westmd
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Do you know if it has always leaned this way? It could've started out this way long ago for some reason, and later trunk growth further up straightened out. A serious lean would be an otherwise straight tree leaning (would indicate root breakage, soil upheaval, etc). Bark can sometimes be pecked off by (big) woodpeckers. Porcupines can strip off outer and inner bark, causing serious damage, even death by girdling. As long as the inner bark is intact, the loss of outer bark isn't serious unless the inner bark gets damaged.

How about a close-up pic of the trunk where it's damaged?
lauriedutch thanked bengz6westmd
Related Professionals
Lawrence Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Martinsburg Landscape Contractors · Bangor Landscape Contractors · Erie Landscape Contractors · Auburn Home Builders · Baton Rouge Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Westminster Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Kansas City Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Lawrenceburg Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Jonesboro Landscape Contractors · Portland Landscape Contractors · Detroit Landscape Contractors · Lima Landscape Contractors · Moline Home Additions · Binghamton Home Additions
callirhoe123
4 years ago
Can you take a picture of the damaged area?
lauriedutch
Original Author
4 years ago
I can't find a way to reply to each message individually so am replying to three posts in this message.

tsugajunkie: The damage is far worse in one area only, and that's why we've started to think it might not be borers.

bengz6westmd: Interesting question. We have lived here since 2016. I found a 2017 photo that shows the tree leaning (see below), so it seems it has been this way for some years.

callirhoe123: I'll take a photo of the area with the worst damage later today.

A game warden is stopping by, and I'll ask him what he thinks about the bark loss. He'll be familiar with any animals that might be causing the damage.

Thanks, everyone! Appreciate your comments!
cearbhaill (zone 6b Eastern Kentucky)
4 years ago
Send photos of the damaged area to your cooperative extension agent- they are COUNTY specific and would be familiar with anything making the rounds in your area.

Find them by googling "your state+county+cooperative extension."
lauriedutch
Original Author
4 years ago
"Send photos of the damaged area to your cooperative extension agent." I will try that, thanks.

The game warden noticed lots of woodpecker holes in the trunk; most ponderosas in our area have lots of woodpecker holes. He didn't know if that is what is causing the extra bark loss on one side of the tree though.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
4 years ago
if so.... you must ask yourself... what is under the bark that the woodpeckers want???

im sure they dont just slam there heads into hard live trees.. just for the heck of it ...

and if there is a borer.. or other insect under the bark ... what is the cause of the bark loss.. the insect or the woodpecker ...

ken
lauriedutch
Original Author
4 years ago
Here are some photos taken at the base of the tree.