How to treat an apple tree trunk for diseases and bark damage

For frostbite and burns

Why does apple tree bark crack? Some possible causes include severe frosts for which the tree was unprepared, or sunburn. If you notice cracked bark on the trunk or branches, this is the first sign of trouble.

Plants in your garden can sometimes struggle to withstand winter frosts. If you haven't taken steps to increase your tree's winter hardiness and strengthen it before the cold weather sets in, be prepared for the consequences. A sign of frostbite is the appearance of cracks in the tree's bark. If the bark cracks aren't too severe, the apple tree will heal on its own, and when the sap begins to flow actively in the spring, the wounds will heal on their own. However, if large areas are cracked, it's necessary to scrape off the loose bark and seal the wounds with garden pitch.

Additionally, cracked bark can be the result of sun damage. This typically affects young trees, as older apple trees are less susceptible to sunburn. When sunburned, the bark peels off and takes on a lighter shade. It is necessary to clean the dead areas and treat the wounds using a solution of hydrogen peroxide or garden varnish.

It's important to remember that when an apple tree's bark cracks, immediate action is needed, as this leaves the plant vulnerable to a variety of pests and fungal diseases, including fruit rot. So, don't let things slide; treat the trees.

In case of physical damage

These include damage resulting from attacks by various rodents (in winter, your garden becomes a real gift for them), unfavorable weather conditions, or improper crown formation.

How do you treat an apple tree trunk if the bark is damaged? Garden pitch will come to the rescue again. This is the solution used to treat damaged areas of the trunk to restore the tree if pests are to blame. If heavy rain, wind, or hail have broken one or more branches, trim them off at the base and seal them with garden pitch or yellow clay with mullein (in a 1:1 ratio).

For illnesses

But frostbite and burns aren't the only causes of cracked and split bark. It can also be the result of a serious disease, even one like black canker, for which there is no cure.

What diseases exist and what to do if the bark of an apple tree cracks as a result of disease?

Cytosporosis

This bark disease is quite unpleasant, and if you don't take action promptly, your favorite tree will likely never recover. Cytosporosis appears as small reddish-brown ulcers that initially appear on the branches but, over time, spread to a larger area, leading to rapid branch death. This rapidly progressing fungal disease can cause the tree to die quite quickly.

How to treat this apple tree trunk disease?

First, remove the affected branches by hand. Damaged areas on the apple tree trunk itself should be trimmed with a knife, and then a compress of mullein and clay should be applied to the cuts treated with copper sulfate, securing it to the damaged area with a bandage. These treatments have a restorative effect, and the apple tree will soon be healthy again.

Black crayfish

Why is my apple tree's trunk turning black? This is a sign that a dreaded disease called black canker has appeared in your garden. If the plant has been weakened after fruiting or as a result of unfavorable weather conditions, it becomes especially susceptible to this disease. Infected areas of the trunk turn black, clearly showing the extent of the disease. The blackened bark cracks easily, peels, and falls off, revealing the spongy wood underneath.

How to cure this disease? Unfortunately, if your plant is infected with black canker, the easiest way to do this is to kill it and clear your plot of this infestation. But if the disease hasn't yet progressed too far, you can try your best to save the plant. To do this, remove and cut out all affected areas, and cover the wounds with copper sulfate followed by a poultice of clay mixed with mullein. If the cracked bark has almost completely disappeared, you can try a bridge graft.

Moreover, black cancer affects not only the branches, but also the fruits of the apple tree, therefore, after all the measures taken, it is recommended to carry out a thorough treatment with Bordeaux mixture.

Common crayfish

Characterized by the appearance of growths surrounded by darkened tubercles. Due to its slow spread, the chances of saving the apple tree are much higher than with the previous disease.

The same method used to treat black cancer should be used. If attempts to cure the plant prove fruitless, there is no choice but to destroy it.

For lichen

Lichens are generally not considered diseases. They appear as a green coating on the apple tree trunk and do not harm the tree. However, the problem is that they can harbor various insects and pests that attack the fruit and leaves of the tree in the spring.

To remove lichen, there's no need to use any additional products—it's quite easy to remove by hand. If this proves difficult, spray the affected areas with a soapy solution and then scrape them off after half an hour.

Prevention

So, we've covered the main apple tree diseases that can cause bark cracking and their treatments. Now we'll explain what treatments to use to prevent various ailments.

To protect a tree from frostbite, ensure it is securely covered for the winter. To do this, wrap the trunk with various types of fabric and secure it securely. Wrapping it with roofing felt or spruce fiber will help protect the plant from the sharp teeth of rodents.

To avoid burns, the tree should be whitewashed in a timely manner from the ground to the first skeletal branches.

To prevent cytosporosis, use the drug "Hom" (before bud swelling), copper sulfate (before flowering) and a tank mixture (also before flowering).

Maintaining the good condition of your garden plants will protect you from black and common cancer: strengthening fertilizers, fertilizing nutrient-poor soil – anything that helps strengthen the immune system and disease resistance.

It's also worth remembering that cracks in the trunk can cause much more serious illnesses due to the penetration of various bacteria and fungi. So, don't forget about timely intervention.

Video: Saving an Apple Tree After Rodent Damage

This video will show you how to save a fruit tree after bark damage by rodents.