The bark of a tree is not just a structured structure on the trunk. It is an important organ that performs vital functions. Even a small piece of tree bark shows how the tree protects itself against environmental influences.

Each bark looks different (here: tree bark of a linden tree)

Table of Contents

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  1. the essentials in brief
  2. trees and bark
  3. Protect and repair
  4. bark problems
  5. use and process
  6. DIY ideas
  7. frequently asked Questions

    8. the essentials in brief

    • Tree bark protects the trees from environmental influences and fire
    • Depending on the tree species, tree bark can be black, green, gray or even reddish in color
    • The tree seals wounds in the bark with resin; man can help with wound closure agent

    trees and their bark

    Shrubs are used in the garden as a privacy screen or as a source of fruit. Usually the bark is not a selection criterion. But many trees are characterized by an aesthetic bark that sets visual accents at any time of the year. Not only the structure of this natural protective cover varies from smooth to silky to rough and wrinkled. The coloring can also take on all nuances from red to brown to green.

    species colorings variety of patterns
    maple Striped Maple, Coralbark Maple, Rustbeard Maple, Snakeskin Maple coral red, orange, golden yellow, olive green Chocolate shavings, cinnamon rolls, snake skin
    birch Black Birch, Himalayan Birch, Silver Birch, Downy Birch snow-white, yellow-white, reddish, black-brown Bark comes off in wide strips
    beech Copper beech, stone beech, weeping beech, Süntel beech dark green, black, silver grey pitted, cracked, smooth
    Oak Swamp oak, downy oak, tiger oak reddish, gray, greenish fielded, furrowed, scaly
    jaw Scots Pine, Black Pine reddish brown, greyish brown, dark scaly, furrowed
    ash common ash light green, gray, black smooth, cracked, ribbed

    functions of the bark

    The outer layers, collectively referred to as bark, are called bast and bark. The bast serves to transport sugar compounds through the tree, while the bark has a protective function. It is the natural barrier against environmental influences such as frost and fire. Extreme temperatures are buffered by air pockets in the bark. Since the bark cells have died, they hardly need any energy.

    Functions of the bark:

    • protective wall
    • growth zone
    • information center
    • communication organ

    digression

    stem structure

    An important difference between woody and herbaceous plants is the trunk of a tree, which cannot only grow tall. He gets fatter over the years. The cambium is responsible for this so-called increase in thickness. It forms bast cells that grow outwards. In addition, this layer produces wood cells inside. It is only a few cells thick and cannot be renewed even if it is damaged. Inside is the pith, which is surrounded by heartwood and sapwood.

    Determine tree bark

    Identifying trees by their bark takes a lot of practice. Species such as birch, plane tree or beech have an unmistakable bark. Other species are very similar in color and structure, so that additional identification features often have to be used. Growth habit and habitat play a major role in identification. You can also look at dead leaves just below the tree, as this provides clear information about the species.

    Protect and repair bark

    If the bark has been damaged, the tree needs to close these wounds quickly. The cambium also performs this task. It forms the so-called wound stick, which slides over the wound and closes it. Since this process lasts from several months to years, the tree has to resort to an initial remedial measure.

    emergency measure

    In some trees, resin escapes from the wound, which closes it. Other types seal off the wood pores from the outside so that no fungi or pathogens can penetrate. If the cambium is injured, it is no longer formed again. At this point the sap lines are broken and the tree has to compensate for this loss. It is therefore all the more important that the bark of a tree is protected and not damaged.

    Whoever peels off the bark of a living tree damages it.

    Why the bark cracks

    Cracks in trees can be traced back to various causes. Not only mechanical damage but also infestation by insects and fungi cause cracking. Damage to the cherry tree bark is often caused by strong temperature fluctuations between day and night. At night, the north side of the trunk cools faster than the southern side of the trunk, which is still warm from the day. The surface of the bark tears open due to the resulting tension.

    heal bark

    The tree will close large bark cracks over the years by growing over them. The most important measure is good care. Make sure that the tree is optimally supplied with water and nutrients. Active measures to close the wound always turn out to be negative.

    You should avoid:

    • Wound closure agents ensure a fungus-friendly environment
    • Cutting off the edge of the wound leads to a loss of vitality
    • Covering with black foil worsens the microclimate

    bark problems

    In most cases there is no need to worry if the tree loses its bark

    If the bark cracks and falls off, don't worry. Larger injuries, however, should be investigated. Cracks can be caused by environmental influences or mechanically.

    Damage to fibrous bark

    Squirrels occasionally gather fibrous bark from certain conifers to use as cushioning material. They remove the fibers of the bark from living trees and work both flat and vertically. The processed areas are mostly in the lower trunk area. Here the bark appears fibrous-rough to bristly.

    Affected shrubs are exotic:

    • giant sequoia
    • Japanese cedar
    • Giant Arborvitae
    • Chinese Redwood
    • bald cypress

    Tree bark eroded, injured or damaged

    Young trees are more often affected by bark damage than old trees. However, age is not a complete exclusion criterion, because trees in the forest are more often eaten by wild animals or damaged in other ways. If the feeding damage is only spot-on and the trunk has not been debarked all around, you can disinfect the wound with nettle manure. Provide the tree with water and nutrients so that it can regenerate itself.

    Bark completely peeled off

    Fallow deer prefer to eat young fruit trees and sometimes eat off the entire bark of the lower trunk area. If the damage is severe, the pathways are severed and the tree can no longer obtain nutrients. If there are some conductive paths, you can seal the open areas with clay. If the conduction pathways are completely destroyed, you can try to create juice pathways.

    Create a juice bridge as an emergency rescue:

    1. Cut off a sufficiently strong branch
    2. bevel on both sides
    3. Push under the bark of the trunk above and below the ringing
    4. wrap with bast

    Common diseases

    There are some diseases that cause bark injuries in early or later stages. The symptoms are disease specific. Groove-shaped cracks that go deep into the wood can appear. Cracked sores in the bark can be accompanied by scab formation. The diseases cause other typical symptoms such as wood discoloration or changes in the crown area.

    • bark burn: Stone fruit is affected in permanently wet weather
    • bark scab: attacks drought- and stress-damaged rose plants
    • sooty bark disease: Occurs in drought stressed maple trees

    Bark blight is not easy to spot

    treat fungal infestation

    What is almost normal in old trees can also occur in young trees: chipped bark caused by fungi. While the wood appears fibrous and covered by a white-grey veil in the case of white rot, dark brown to black discolorations occur in the case of brown rot. The wood under the bark disintegrates into cubes. 30 different types of fungi are responsible for these symptoms. They settle in open wounds, in which there is a humid microclimate.

    First aid:

    • Cut out small wounds down to healthy wood
    • disinfect with nettle manure
    • Provide tree with water and nutrients

    pests?

    There are some beetles that can lodge under the bark and create impressive burrow systems. But not all species living under the bark are dangerous for the tree. The nature of the tunnels can give an indication of the particular species that lives in the wood.

    symptoms pest
    bark beetle Feeding passages between bark and wood with a typical central passage Yes
    jewel beetle Zigzag feeding passages between bark and wood no
    ant Tunnel systems and chambers in dead heartwood no

    Use and process bark

    Don't remove the bark without good reason, lest you add unnecessary stress to the tree. Tree bark is ideal for handicrafts and processing. To do this, collect bark from dead branches that you find in the forest. You can peel the trunk with a drawknife or score squares in the bark with a knife and then pull them off.

    youtube

    Make durable

    The best method of preserving bark is extensive drying. When the pieces are heated, no microorganisms survive. Mold does not grow on dry wood, making further treatment with wood preservatives unnecessary. Always keep an eye on the material when drying in the oven to avoid possible charring.

    How to proceed:

    1. Place wood on a baking sheet covered with baking paper
    2. Bake at 100 degrees for 30 minutes
    3. then let it cool down

    tips

    Alternatively, you can let the pieces of bark dry in a sauna or microwave. Bark also dries well with a hair dryer or on a heater.

    DIY ideas

    If you don't want to buy any decoration, you can collect tree bark and use it in a variety of ways for handicrafts and decoration. Pieces of bark are rewarding objects because they don't require elaborate preparation. They can be used to make arrangements or natural flower bowls. You can also use the bark pieces to embellish furnishings.

    plant bark

    Barks make beautiful planters

    Large pieces of bark, which you can find in the forest after felling trees, are ideal objects for planting. Choose species that grow in gravelly and sandy soil and have low water requirements. As a result, the bark does not become too moist and lasts longer. Succulents or tillandsia feel particularly comfortable in the bark shell.

    The mini garden:

    • substrate: mixture of gravel, crushed stone and sand
    • plant: Houseleek, Jupiter's Beard, Stonecrop
    • decoration: bizarre stones, mini tin watering can

    tips

    Glue blown eggs and moss to the tree bark and repurpose the eggs into a mini flower vase. So you have an individual Easter decoration.

    Summer decoration: bark pot

    The texture of the tree bark creates a natural atmosphere that goes perfectly with houseplants, kitchen herbs or small shrubs. You can make a summer flowerpot out of bark with just a few resources. Birch bark is well suited and provides color contrasts.

    That's how it's done:

    • Place bark around the desired flower pot
    • Cut the piece of bark and apply hot glue
    • Press onto the pot and fix with clothespins

    Autumn decoration: arrangement

    A large piece of bark provides the basis for a rustic table decoration. Gather moss, leaves, acorns, and rose hips to decorate. Place pillar candles on the tray and distribute the natural materials on top. Tree mushrooms complete the arrangement. These can be easily dried and are durable for eternity.

    Christmas decoration: fir tree

    For the fir tree you need several pieces of bark of different sizes. Poke a hole in the center of each piece of bark. These are placed on a kebab skewer in decreasing size, creating a Christmas tree shape. In order for the tree to stand, the kebab skewer is inserted into a tree disc. You can crown your fir tree with a birch bark star you cut yourself.

    More natural decorations for Christmas:

    • Christmas tree decorations made from star-shaped pieces of bark
    • Advent arrangements with red candles, pine branches and bark figures
    • wooden heart covered with moss

    frequently asked Questions

    Why does the bark peel off trees?

    The fact that trees shed their bark has nothing to do with drought. After a rainy spring, there is often a growth spurt and the trees shed their bark. The bark consists of dead cells that are renewed by the bast. The bark grows with it as the tree grows in thickness. The bark tears open because the tension is too great. This bark shedding is particularly noticeable on plane trees.

    Should I remove growths on the bark?

    Lichens and mosses often grow on the side of the trunk that faces the weather. However, such natural layers do not damage the tree. They provide additional protection against the weather and should therefore not be removed. If you remove lichen and moss with a brush, you damage the bark and fungi can penetrate the wounds.

    Why do green mushrooms grow on the bark?

    Excessive lichen growth on individual branches indicates that they are slowly dying. There are different types of lichen, the color of which can vary from yellow to orange to green and grey. Yellow lichen commonly occurs on tree bark and is referred to as a yellow or green fungus because of its coloration. Instead of removing the vegetation, you should cut off the affected branches at the base. This allows the tree to invest its energy in developing fresh branches.

    Can you eat tree bark?

    Tree bark itself is not edible because it is neither easily digestible nor nutritious. Bread with bark admixtures has a long tradition in northern Europe. To combat famine, the flour was laced with ground pine bark. Today the bark bread is a luxury good. For production, the white layer of bast is scraped off, dried and ground. Edible bark spaghetti is made in a similar way.

    Products with tree bark:

    • Tea made from the bark of the Lapacho tree
    • Cinnamon as a spice from tree bark

Category:

Trees