Columnar apple tree missing bark in spots (Pics)

[PNW garden girl]

Hi garden community!!
New here with a question regarding my columnar apple trees. Two of them having spots that are missing bark...otherwise, they’re leafing out and flowering normally. Can anyone tell me what’s going on here and if there is anything I need to do? Not sure if this is a disease issue or if they were damaged from rough treatment prior to purchasing last year. Thanks for any help!!!

 

[Chuck]

Those little white spots look like hard scale insects and they do that sort of damage eventually killing the tree. Spray with Neem Oil.

 

[PNW garden girl]

Those little white spots look like hard scale insects and they do that sort of damage eventually killing the tree. Spray with Neem Oil.

Thank you I’ll definitely do that! Any idea on the areas missing bark?

 

[Chuck]

Thank you I’ll definitely do that! Any idea on the areas missing bark?

As long as it doesn't encircle the entire trunk in an area it will be ok. The scale insects sucked the moisture out of the phloem which made the bark turn loose and fall off.