Tree Cracks or Tree Scars
Frost damage? Is it possible on a tree? Yes. The trunk of a tree can freeze during wintertime. If the temperature drops to below freezing after it warmed, the part of the exposed, moistened trunk freezes and thaws, the exposed trunk expands, contracts and it results in the vertical splitting of the trunk of the tree in the garden.
How do you Protect the Tree?
There is not much you can do to prevent the splitting of the trunk of an adult tree during winter. The trunk of a young tree may be protected by wrapping it with burlap or thick paper during the freezing time. Be sure to remove the burlap or thick paper from the young tree when it is not freezing.
If the cover stays in the trunk for a long time, the bark of the tree gets moistened and damped, this will then weaken and rot. When freezing time, the moistened bark freezes then eventually thaw and splits, this will expose the trunk of the tree and also causes the trunk to easily crack during wintertime.
When the trunk cracks, it will eventually reveal the inner part of the tree. This will attract insects to invade the tree. The crack can also easily expose the tree to any tree diseases. These vertical splits or cracks become permanent scars in the tree.