A maple cannot survive without its bark any more than a person without his skin. Therefore, if the tree loses its bark, immediately start looking for the cause. You can read about the most common triggers for the problem with tips for the right course of action here.

If the maple loses its bark, a disease can be behind it, but it doesn't have to be

Sooty bark disease - danger to humans and maples

Parallel to global warming, a fungal disease is spreading on maple trees in Germany, the typical symptom of which is flaking bark. The types of sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus), Norway maple (Acer platanoides) and field maple (Acer campestre) are often affected. Unfortunately, the spores of the pathogen Cryptostroma corticale are also a health hazard for people, especially if they are already susceptible to allergies. You can recognize sooty bark disease by these signs:

  • Early stage: bark deformations, slime flow spots on the trunk, wilted leaves, leaf fall
  • Subsequently: extensive loss of bark makes black, sooty coating visible
  • High spore production turns the surrounding area black

If people inhale the flying spores, the air sacs in the lungs may become inflamed. Infested maple trees should therefore be cleared immediately by professionals with protective equipment.

Kahlfrost causes the bark to burst - tips for solving the problem

A winter hardiness of up to - 40 degrees Celsius does not protect maple trees from losing the bark in frost. The combination of dry cold and intense sunlight pulls at the bark tissue until it tears. Here are some options to help the tree heal from chipped bark:

  • Smooth out the damaged area with a sharp knife and coat with wound closure
  • Alternatively, cover the exposed cambium with a thick layer of damp clay
  • Protect the wound with black foil until it is overgrown with fresh bark

To prevent this, place wooden boards in front of the maple trunk in winter or cover the bark with reed mats. The recommended procedure has also proved its worth when the bark has been lost as a result of browsing by game.

tips

Home gardeners and foresters use the life-threatening consequences of bark loss to destroy a potentially dangerous maple tree. When ringing, a 5 to 10 cm wide bark strip is removed from the lower trunk area and the cambium underneath is brushed off. Within 12 to 36 months the tree collapses and dies.

Category:

Trees