Young Maple with a gnarly looking trunk

[BigbadVince]

Hi All.

 

New here and I've been looking for some help with my backyard tree.  I noticed my tree was looking rough: barely leafing and whatever leaves it had was browning. It was wrapped during the summer and I noticed ants congregating under the wrapping. So I sprayed the ants away and I took the wrap out only to find the trunk looks nasty.

 

Any comments and advice would be appreciated.

[Dan Maynard]

Take pics of whole tree including the leaves. The trunk just looks like it's getting older, I'm a bit more gnarly now I'm older too.

[Steven P]

On my apple trees I read that the ants are not there damaging the tree but feeding on aphids that are feeding on the tree. Not sure if the same applies to maples or if the ants like to eat it