Frisco residents enjoy a massive therapeutic combination of beautiful shades, sweet fruits, scattered blossoming flowers, and a fresh breeze provided by the various trees planted here.
But all this could potentially go away if these trees develop cracks and are left unattended. A cracked tree trunk can provide openings for pests and diseases, compromising the health of the tree. Not only that; large cracks increase the risk of trees’ failure, creating an extremely hazardous situation for homeowners and their property.
Here is all you need to know about tree cracks and how to manage them.
What Does A crack In A Tree mean?
A crack in a tree means that your tree is unstable. It is a point of weakness for your tree and can cause potential damage to property or individuals, especially if the tree has other underlying conditions.
Homeowners in Frisco, like everyone else, want to achieve the healthiest trees and the most stunning landscapes. Unfortunately, sometimes this is not possible especially when tree cracks come into the picture. Trees with large cracks can be unstable, and could cause significant damage to the property, particularly during the hurricane season in Frisco.
Cracked Tree Trunk: 4 Types Of Tree Cracks
Most tree cracks occur when a tree is injured and the wound doesn’t close properly or by splitting of weak joints. You can find the weak joints in roots, stems, and branches. Consult a tree service Frisco expert to inspect any defects like cracks to prevent future damage on your trees.
There are a variety of cracks that can develop in trees. Here are the most common.
1. Horizontal Cracks
Horizontal cracks run across the wood grain and usually appear when the weight of the tree’s crown pulls the wood fibres apart. The cracks are hard to detect and happen just before the tree’s failure. These cracks are a sign of impending failure in leaning trees, especially if the trees are planted close to each other.
2. Vertical Cracks
Vertical cracks appear along the length of the tree. The cracks form when there is alternating hot and cold temperatures during winter. On warmer days, the heat from the sun warms up the bark of the tree and when the sun goes down, the bark and the surrounding plant cells rapidly refreeze. This expansion and contraction is what causes shear or ribbed vertical cracks on trees.
3. Shear Cracks
Shear cracks run entirely through the stem separating it into two. When the tree sways in the wind and bends side to side, one half of the stem slides over the other, extending a once hardly noticeable crack. Eventually, the enlarging split causes the two halves of the stem to shear apart.
4. Ribbed Cracks
Ribbed cracks develop when a tree attempts to seal a wound. The meeting and meshing of the margins reopen as a result of strong winds or alternating hot and cold temperatures. Thicker rings form to stabilize the developing crack where the wound appears. As this continues to happen over the years, the tree appears ribbed.
Can a Cracked Tree Trunk Be Repaired?
Yes, a cracked trunk can be repaired through cabling and bracing methods. Ideally, the techniques reduce the chance of failure of a tree as a result of structural weakness mostly in co-dominate stems.
Typically, as most trees grow, they develop one main “leader.” In a co-dominate stem, there is not just one main “leader,” there are two and sometimes even three roughly of the same size that all grow upright. In mature trees, the stems’ attachment points often present a structural weakness and this can be mitigated by cabling and bracing.
How Do You Treat a Split Tree Trunk?
You can treat a split tree trunk by applying the two most common types of tree structural support; cabling and bracing. It is worth noting that a tree can be cabled without being braced but not braced without being cabled.
The rods used for bracing are much weaker than the cables which are placed high in the tree where they have more leverage. You can always have a professional tree service Texas company do the cabling or bracing for you.
Related Post: Tree Cabling
The Local Tree Experts Overview
A cracked tree trunk may appear normal to some homeowners, but it is not. Cracks compromise a tree’s structure and pose higher risks especially if a tree has other defects. By measuring the thickness of the shell in a few points around the perimeter of the tree, determining the crack opening’s extent, and looking for any other faults, a qualified arborist will help you ascertain the probability of failure of your tree. With all this knowledge, you will be able to have splendid, healthy greenery free from the potential hazard of tree cracks!