Author Topic: Charlie's silver maple (Read 2518 times)

Tom · « **on:** August 05, 2008, 11:08:28 pm »

Charlie asked me what might have happened to his silver maple. It has been split for awhile this summer and he was wondering if it was going to live and heal OK. It's in Wisconsin

You can see the split on the other side too, but it is just a slit and not opened up wide like this side.

Lanier_Lurker · « **Reply #1 on:** August 05, 2008, 11:10:49 pm »

If that ain't a lightning strike then I have no idea what it is.

How do the leaves look?

Tom · « **Reply #2 on:** August 05, 2008, 11:20:26 pm »

I thought it was too, but the tree is only 6" in diameter and I thought it might have frozen last winter.
Other than the split, the tree seems healthy.

Lanier_Lurker · « **Reply #3 on:** August 05, 2008, 11:25:37 pm »

Oh right. He lives up in the tundra, yes?

Was it Wisconsin?

Tom · « **Reply #4 on:** August 05, 2008, 11:26:52 pm »

Yeah, He's just east of St. Paul

WDH · « **Reply #5 on:** August 05, 2008, 11:31:26 pm »

I ain't familiar with tundral effects.

Lanier_Lurker · « **Reply #6 on:** August 05, 2008, 11:34:35 pm »

This sounds like something for the Donk to weigh in on. He lives in the tundra also.

Tom · « **Reply #7 on:** August 05, 2008, 11:35:10 pm »

I tried to tell Charlie not to go up there. $:-\$

Gary_C · « **Reply #8 on:** August 06, 2008, 12:15:44 am »

I see a lot of trees like that in the northern part of MN and WI and nobody wants to commit on the cause of the damage. Most foresters call that a frost crack and others will say it is lightning damage. I have seen areas in the northern forests where many trees show that type of damage and they do not have all that many lightning storms. So maybe the best answer is that it could be both reasons.

But regardless of the cause, the chances of a silver maple in the northern fringe of it's normal growing area living with that damage to remain a good shade tree are not good. If the tree is not in an area where it could cause any property damage he could just leave it and see how it does. I would probably just cut it and start something else in its place.

Tom · « **Reply #9 on:** August 06, 2008, 12:18:50 am »

I think he has a whole grove of the things ina little woods behind the house. This one is not very big and is pratically standing alone with a few other silver maples in the back of a large yard. Even if it matured, taking it down wouldn't be a problem.

thecfarm · « **Reply #10 on:** August 06, 2008, 09:46:55 am »

Did he do some thinning around it?I'm claiming back an old pasture and when I get some trees in the open they get sun burned.

Tom · « **Reply #11 on:** August 06, 2008, 01:15:53 pm »

No, these trees have been planted in an open yard that has existed for some time. while the trees aren't old, they aren't newly planted.

DanG · « **Reply #12 on:** August 06, 2008, 01:46:50 pm »

It looks to me like the little tree has made a lot of progress toward healing itself. I doubt it would have survived a lightning hit that split it through, so it is probably a frost crack. What concerns me is, if the tree does heal itself before the bugs take it out, won't it be weakened considerabley? You Foresters correct me if I'm wrong, but won't the healing just occur by growing new wood on the outer periphery of the stem, and leave the crack through the middle? Wouldn't that make it a hazardous tree to cut down 20 years from now, especially if the cutter doesn't know it is damaged on the inside? I think I would cut the DanG thing down now and plant a new one in its place.

WDH · « **Reply #13 on:** August 06, 2008, 10:01:03 pm »

It is likely that the damage has introduced heart rot fungi into the tree. External wounds are the most significant portal of infection for these fungi. Given that the tree will probably develop heart rot, it might be a better choice to invest the future in a more healthy specimen.

However, this little tree could live for a long time.

Brian Beauchamp · « **Reply #14 on:** August 08, 2008, 10:10:51 pm »

Trees in an open-growing state where the bole is exposed to direct sunlight will do that when the ground is frozen at times because of the expansion of the wood from the heat of the sun. Since the tree cannot draw water from the ground, which is what maintains its elasticity, the bark, cambium and/or xylem will split. It does provide an entrance point for pathogens, but that one looks like it'll be fine.

Dave Shepard · « **Reply #15 on:** August 08, 2008, 11:01:25 pm »

Tom, I think you should do the brotherly thing and offer to overwinter Charlies poor little tree this winter so it doesn't frost crack again.

Dave

Tom · « **Reply #16 on:** August 08, 2008, 11:07:10 pm »

I would, dave, but shipping is horrendous.

Brian, that sounds like the environment in which the tree lives. It's split plum through.

WDH · « **Reply #17 on:** August 08, 2008, 11:57:40 pm »

Quote from: Tom on August 08, 2008, 11:07:10 pm

It's split plum through.

Tom,

That is interesting vernacular. How many people use "plum" as an adjective, like "I am plum full as a tick". It has been a while since I heard that usage, takes me back to my childhood and my Granny

.

Tom · « **Reply #18 on:** August 09, 2008, 12:27:22 am »

I don't know, Danny. It just kinda rolled easily off of my lips like it was the thing to say.

Lanier_Lurker · « **Reply #19 on:** August 09, 2008, 12:34:58 am »

Last time I heard "plum" used as an adjective was to describe a person as being "plum" loco - which I guess is just plain crazy.

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Author Topic: Charlie's silver maple (Read 2518 times)