fruit trees, bark peeling and wood cracking

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

i am noticing damage to my fruit trees this spring. most noticeable is on this 10 year old peach tree. bark drying and peling, exposed wood is dry and cracked. most affested is main trunk but similar going on on the branches.

have similar issue starting to show on my cherry tree. affected on south exposed sides. the tree seems alive with new growth and buds, but i am worried it might not survive long. any idea? i am guessing its the sun here in colorado. any way to heal or protect at this point. and what to do about other trees in order to avoid same issue in the future? i would hat to lose this peach as it gives us great big peaches on most years.

any advice appreciated. i am in Colorado, Denver area. attaching images of affested tree.

thanks

Featured Answer

treebarb Z5 Denver

3 years ago

It's helpful to wrap the trees, apply between Halloween and Thanksgiving and remove the wrap around Easter. I prefer Clark's tree wrap to burlap, but even burlap would help. That appears to be old damage. I wouldn't wrap them now. You may remember the 70 degree temp swing in the Denver area in December. We were 50 degrees one day and -20 the next. That's really hard on trees, there's going to be a lot of damage showing up this spring. See what leafs out, prune off the dead. Be hopeful, but it may be time to start planning for new trees, these look like they're getting near the end of their useful life cycle. Fruit trees are fairly short lived in Colorado.

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Comments (6)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
3 years ago
Does that happen to be the SW SIDE OF the trunk...if so sun scald...

First pic...note how it gets thinner towards the soil...it's telephone poles...planted too deep....pull back the soil and see if you can find the root flare...

Learn how to prune without leaving stubs...

I would probably remove that ugly branch entirely...and properly...

And frankly...in my 40 years of gardening...I've probably killed 5 peaches...and in all those years...got 3 good crops...imo...now....lol..total waste of space....be glad and look forward to the day you cut it flush to the ground...and apply a stump killer....

In the meantime...it might live another decade...or not... Who knows...

Bottom line how long are you going to let it piss you off every time you look at it...

Ken
brano rataj
Original Author
3 years ago
yeah, probably bit towards SW but mostly S facing damage. can i wrap in burlap?, saw it on other trees here, prob having same issue. and lol, not cuting it unless it dies, actually have 3 of these and nectarine that all give great fruit.
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Embothrium
3 years ago
What's involved depends on which particular kind of fruit tree is being discussed. Since you have mentioned a peach tree, here is some information Colorado Extension has about keeping those going:

Backyard Orchard: Stone Fruits - 2.804 - Extension (colostate.edu)
BillMN-z4a
3 years ago
I've seen dying bark on trees that were planted too deep with the root flare buried.

Find the root flare, that will tell you if that's the problem or not.
L Clark (zone 4 WY)
3 years ago
Agree with tree Barb. That looks like years-old damage. Also agree with other comments. It's a tough climate for trees in general. Hence why no trees grow where you live naturally, save riparian areas.