Mysterious 'stretch' marks

[Ty Korrigan]

Multi stemmed Sycamore.

The stems have been previously topped at around 5m and now carry a further 10m+

These marks start at the old pruning points on the outside of each stem.

Qu: Is the wood fractured with the bark keeping pace?

Have the decay pockets become so deep as to allow the water to expand during freezing causing this?

Or is it the woods reaction to the rapid weight gain?

Thank you in advance for your responses

Ty

[10 Bears]

Its simply growth cracks in the older wood.

[Ty Korrigan]

Growth cracks?

Are you saying that the wood has a fissure within and the bark is simply closing over each time it opens a little?

Ty

[skyhuck]

Its simply growth cracks in the older wood.

 

[treeseer]

Qu: Is the wood fractured with the bark keeping pace?

Yes, wood is likely decaying and cracking under that 10m load; time to reduce!

 

Or is it the woods reaction to the rapid weight gain?

That's another way to [put it! Not merely bark changing to adult. Location indicates the association with topping wounds.

[NFG]

Hi Ty,

 

Ive seen similar damage to bark on trees here, a little further south in the Vendee.

 

I note we had a very dry summer & a wet week in September with few days of fairly good rain.

 

Perhaps it could be caused by the sudden uptake of water after a long dry spell causing the trunk to swell?

 

 

N

[Ty Korrigan]

Qu: Is the wood fractured with the bark keeping pace?

Yes, wood is likely decaying and cracking under that 10m load; time to reduce!

 

Or is it the woods reaction to the rapid weight gain?

That's another way to [put it! Not merely bark changing to adult. Location indicates the association with topping wounds.

 

At last, a concise response with which to back up my own conclusion.

Thank you Treeseer:thumbup1:

 

Client is convinced that the 'freeze thaw' effect is the cause.

Only this ain't Siberia...

Ty

[treeseer]

So you heard what you wanted to hear and went with it.

 

Seriously, that conclusion seems to match the evidence and history.