If a tree falls in my backyard...

[axescot]

I have this tree at the end of my yard and wondering if these cracks indicate that it's about to fall? I haven't noticed them before but then again haven't really looked that closely.

 

[Marck]

Cracks like that may be evidence of sudden growth injury. In colder climates frost can sometime vertically split bark that way, but that seems unlikely in your climate. These cracks don't seem that deep or ominous, but with something like this, but if there are doubts having your trees surveyed by a certified arborist might be a worthwhile option.

Is that a Silk Tree (Albizia julibrissin)?
I'm not certain, but the bark looks similar, and there are old legume pods on the ground nearby that look similar.

 

[axescot]

Yep, this is the tree. The people who owned the house before me must have liked a lot of Japanese plants.

 

[CreakyGardener]

I'm not 100% (or an expert)) but they do look like growth / stretch marks to me though I'd still keep an eye on them once in a while to make sure. I've had many smoother barked trees do that as they matured ad it worried me at first until I saw much bigger trees and what they looked like. The bark becomes more rough as the tree ages and the newer growth was smooth. If it's not seeping, or gaping open without healing over or any bug s in there, I wouldn't worry too much just yet. I'm thinking you'll find more and more of them as time goes by on the lower areas until there's a texture there. I have two maple trees now that have the same stretch marks as the older trunk is becoming more mature. The lower you go the more rough they are now. Here's a pic of the newest lines that creep up the tree into the younger smooth barked leads as they get older.

 

[Tree man]

I have this tree at the end of my yard and wondering if these cracks indicate that it's about to fall? I haven't noticed them before but then again haven't really looked that closely.

WView attachment 87328View attachment 87329

Those look like that tree may have been hit by lightning. At the top it looks like 4 branches grew together from the stump. there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with the tree so I wouldn't worry until the tree died. If it's heart dead the branches will start growing from the bark.
Creaky gardener I don't mean any harm but I've never heard of stress cracks in trees, I did look. I'm no expert either I'm just really good at cutting them down

"Sloughing occurs when a tree’s bark will change its texture as it ages and peel or “slough” off. This sometimes appears like exfoliating all over the trunk. What we’re talking about is defined cracks or splits in the bark."
https://tomlinsonbomberger.com/blog/cracked-splitting-tree-trunks/

If you look at the Mark's on your maple the cracks look to connect at the crook between them, the bark is peeled up at the crook and you can see under it. Maples don't grow straight up the wood twists as it grows, straight line cracks aren't likely. If you've ever seen split maple you can see the twist.
The picture is an elm tree that's heart dead due to Dutch elm disease with the braches growing from the bark.

 

[Marck]

Just for the record, tree stress fractures do exist. They are a real phenomenon.
Of course, correctly diagnosing a fracture and its cause is another matter.

 

[Tree man]

Just for the record, tree stress fractures do exist. They are a real phenomenon.
Of course, correctly diagnosing a fracture and its cause is another matter.

I don't doubt that it is I've never heard of it.
I did want to show you a web site for your Maple?

Maple Tree Bark Disease - Diseases On Maple Trunk And Bark

There are many kinds of maple tree diseases, but the ones that people are most commonly concerned with affect the trunk and bark. Here in this article you will find a list of diseases that affect maples.

www.gardeningknowhow.com

 

[CreakyGardener]

@Tree man, no harm taken. We're all here to share opinions & food for thought. I wasn't so much meaning to diagnose, as I was elaborating and agreeing with @Marck mostly.

Over decades I fell, climbed and pruned more trees than I can recall working in Landscaping & Maint. I'm still no tree expert. My opinion's only that,.. though I do have some observations on my time card. I LOVE trees. In my later life I've been learning a lot more on this site compared to what I used to do.

At first glance, it looked like growth stretch marks to me. Like "sloughing", it's a real thing and very common in larger fast growing smooth barked trees that go through abnormal growth spurts. Especially in commercial areas or homes where they way over fertilize & water until it's set correctly. I've seen trees split from rapid growth or taking on too much water at one time during extreme weather conditions. For lack of a scientific term, it's similar (and slower) to the effect of ripe fruit on a fruit tree splitting - just depends on the tree.

Now that I look at it again, it looks more like (Southwestern) Canker. It can vary, mild to severe and it has that same semi peeled edge too. Especially the way it seems to originate from the soil or bottom of the tree and doesn't seem to have any discoloration that I can see. Frost cracks look exactly like that too, but that'd be rare in San DIego.

I had a Fir tree split a couple yrs ago when I watered heavily during a heat wave. It had been way over fertilized by accident too. We had a 5ft growth spurt and it split a good 70% of the trunk. Sap bleeding, you could see the wood in areas. The needles were 3 times longer than they should've been and twice as far apart. It looked pitiful. I left it to see what it would do and it healed right up the next year and once a new round of needles came out, it looked great. Learned my lesson.

@axescot As for the food for thought part,...Occasionally, trees' trunks can develop cracks, caused by alternating periods of cold and warm temperatures. Though it's not common in mild climates, but not impossible. Is it in a hot spot? It could just be Sunscald, it happens.

I didn't see mention of discoloration in the leaves? Only for the sake of knowing (just in case) and keeping an eye on it to see how it all plays out. The cracks do share similarities with Fusarium Wilt, common is Mimosa Trees in you area. Just something to look up and keep in mind should you ever need to diagnose or rule it out it later. I'll see if I can find a photo of a younger mimosa trunk around the same age with that, and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Fusarium Wilt's found from New York, southward to Ark, California and Louisiana. It's caused by a fungus known as Fusarium Oxysporum forma specialis perniciosum. It's normally first indicated by discoloration of the leaves, not always drastic but if the leaves look healthy on yours then you're likely fine. If you ever do cut a large branch and it has a dark weird looking center, that can be a symptom or indicator also. The bark of the mimosa tree will eventually be affected as it spreads causing splits and cracks. Sometimes oozing occurs and it can have a fermented odor. Hopefully that's not it and certainly nothing to worry about at this point. If you don't know what it is (and it may be nothing at all) the more you learn the more you'll know when the time comes as you keep an eye on it.

Hope that helps,.. just my two pennies.

​

 

[Tree man]

Thanks Creaky
I started cutting trees away from power lines, then got into landscaping and worked with a tree surgeon for awhile. I could sign on to using an insecticide on trees that already have wood bores. First you drill a half inch hole in the tree....
I can't see how that insures the tree doesn't get wood bores again. I loved tree work until I didn't I don't know how Maple trees still live here. Have you seen the black tar fungus Maples get? It will kill them. The way you get rid of it is to rakes the leaves off the roots.
What did they do before us. I kept a trees roots clear for 7 years and that never worked.
I'm actually here to learn also Marck must have studied plants and trees forever.

 

[CreakyGardener]

Thanks Creaky
I started cutting trees away from power lines, then got into landscaping and worked with a tree surgeon for awhile. I could sign on to using an insecticide on trees that already have wood bores. First you drill a half inch hole in the tree....
I can't see how that insures the tree doesn't get wood bores again. I loved tree work until I didn't I don't know how Maple trees still live here. Have you seen the black tar fungus Maples get? It will kill them. The way you get rid of it is to rakes the leaves off the roots.
What did they do before us. I kept a trees roots clear for 7 years and that never worked.
I'm actually here to learn also Marck must have studied plants and trees forever.

@Tree man, Yikes! Power line trimming's some intense work (my hat's off to yuh). Man, I would've given anything to work with and learn from a tree surgeon! I've had so many questions, hence my finding all you fine people.

Those wood borers scare me! The stuff nightmares are made of. I moved to Oregon from the West side of Idaho/Washington, having to re-learn most everything. We didn't have the humidity/mold, drainage issues or the same bugs to deal with. Not to mention how things are changing too.

No, I haven't heard of the black tar fungus yet. I've seen a variety weird fungus, even black but it wasn't tar like,... that sounds scary since most of my trees are maples now. I'm guilty - it's not much but I do have leaves around the roots of my trees sometimes, knowing it's not good but,.. well no excuse other than laziness. I think I may be doing some raking tomorrow though! Thank you for the heads up. I'll be looking that up tonight, adding that to my list of nightmares and waking up in a sweat screaming "Treee maaannn!!!". Ha ha! A dose of my own medicine there, if you ask me. Hopefully you see the humor in that? Just jokin' around, I love to learn.

Yep, those dang Borer beetles are here. My neighbor's trees across the way are bad and he doesn't care but I'm working on that. They took out a whole 100 ft row of old growth arborvitae. I've been using Neem Oil preventatively under my trees (and on rare occasions even the entire upper tree with a pressure washer & weak mix) getting great results. I haven't had any silk worms in my Ash trees the last few years and they've all totally recovered. I often wonder what I'll do next if they become immune. For now, the trees aren't bug free, just problem free.

I've thought the same thing before,.. what DID they do before us? LMAO! I ask my dog that every time I trim her nails, but she just looks at me like, "Finish my pedicure stupid human".