trunk damage

[bolas782]

HI 

I wonder if anyone can help me 

 

I recently noticed this trunk damage on a standard catalpa 

 

the tree was planted about 3 years ago as a bare root 

 

any ideas what could have caused the damage?

 

[Stubby]

1 hour ago, bolas782 said:

HI 

I wonder if anyone can help me 

 

I recently noticed this trunk damage on a standard catalpa 

 

the tree was planted about 3 years ago as a bare root 

 

any ideas what could have caused the damage?

 

Deer perhaps ?

[Paul in the woods]

It looks more like a disease than deer damage to me. I've seen a lot of fraying damage by roe bucks and it tends to be higher and the bark is rubbed off.

[dumper]

Ride on lawn mower?,bit long for strimmer but my money is. On mechanical maybe poor handling before planting would be nice to see closeup pic

Edited October 17, 2021 by dumper

[bolas782]

Thank you for your responses

Here are some closeups 

The damage stops at about 900mm up the trunk

 

[Retired Climber]

I've seen similar from very irregular watering. Trees that are subject to drought and waterlogging sometimes split in that way. Not seen it on that species though. 

[Khriss]

Sun scorch? Is it south facing wound?  K

[bolas782]

Hi Khriss 

its facing S/W

[Khriss]

22 minutes ago, bolas782 said:

Hi Khriss 

its facing S/W

Could be that then ! Oddly often happens in winter with lower sun height on clear sharp days , or after clearing other trees . K

[openspaceman]

2 hours ago, bolas782 said:

Thank you for your responses

Here are some closeups 

The damage stops at about 900mm up the trunk

 

The bark present at the time of damage is still there, so it doesn't look like mechanical damage, from the  regrowth either side of the sunken area it looks like the undamaged part has put on most of a growth ring and is trying to occlude the damage. which happened at least one growing season back.

 

It is too localised low down to be sun scorching so given the slight blackening I'd guess a car exhaust has  done the heat damage.