Have you ever noticed your elm tree’s bark looking patchy or thin? If so, you may be wondering why the tree is losing its bark.
It could be due to one of several potential causes, from fungal diseases to environmental stressors.
In this article, you’ll learn about the possible causes of bark loss in elm trees, as well as the signs to look for and how to ultimately treat the issue.
Read on to discover the answers to your questions about why your elm tree is losing its bark.
Table of Contents
Short Answer
There are a few possible reasons why your elm tree may be losing its bark.
It may be due to an infestation of pests like borers or other insects, or a fungal or bacterial disease.
It could also be caused by environmental stress, such as too much sun, wind, or cold temperatures.
Additionally, bark can sometimes peel away from the trunk due to natural aging or physical damage.
To determine the exact cause, you may need to consult a professional arborist or have the tree inspected.
Common Causes of Bark Loss
Bark loss on elm trees can have a number of causes, including fungal infections, insect infestations, environmental stress, and mechanical damage.
Fungal infections, such as Dutch elm disease, are caused by the spread of a fungus from one tree to another.
These infections can cause bark loss as well as discolored leaves and branches that eventually die.
Insect infestations, such as elm bark beetles, can also cause bark loss, as they feed on the inner layers of the bark.
Environmental stresses, such as extreme temperatures and drought, can lead to bark loss as the tree struggles to survive.
Finally, mechanical damage, such as from lawn mowers or other equipment, can also cause bark loss.
In order to determine the cause of the bark loss, it is best to consult an experienced arborist.
They will be able to assess the tree and diagnose the issue, and they can offer advice on how to treat it and help your tree to recover.
Treatment may involve pruning away the affected branches, applying fungicides or insecticides, providing additional irrigation in dry periods, or simply providing more shade for the tree.
Taking the right steps to address the issue can help ensure that your elm tree is healthy and thriving.
Signs of Fungal Infections
When it comes to why your elm tree is losing its bark, one of the most likely culprits is a fungal infection.
Fungal infections are caused by pathogens that invade the trees tissues, resulting in discolored and unsightly bark.
Some of the most common fungal infections that can affect elm trees include Dutch elm disease, elm yellows, and elm root rot.
Dutch elm disease is one of the most deadly fungal infections for elm trees, and is spread by a small beetle known as the elm bark beetle.
This beetle carries a pathogen that invades the trees vascular system, resulting in the wilting of leaves and eventual bark loss and death.
This disease is particularly prevalent in elm trees that have been weakened due to environmental stress.
Elm yellows is another fungal infection that can cause bark loss in elm trees.
It is caused by the phytoplasma organism and is spread by leafhoppers.
Symptoms of elm yellows include yellowing of the leaves, branch dieback, and eventual bark loss.
Finally, elm root rot is a fungal infection that is caused by the Phanerochaete chrysosporium fungus.
This fungus invades and kills the trees root system, resulting in bark loss and eventual death of the tree.
If you suspect that your elm tree is suffering from a fungal infection, it is best to consult an experienced arborist.
They can help diagnose the issue and offer advice on how to treat it and help your tree to recover.
Signs of Insect Infestations
Insect infestations can be a major cause of elm tree bark loss.
The most common insect infestation is the elm bark beetle, which attacks both the bark and the wood of elm trees.
Signs of elm bark beetle infestation include small holes in the bark, and signs of larvae and adult beetles.
Another sign of an insect infestation is sawdust-like frass, which is a sign of tunneling insect larvae.
In some cases, the bark may also be dotted with small reddish-brown spots, which are the eggs of the beetle.
If these signs are present, it is likely that the tree is infested by the elm bark beetle.
Treatment for elm bark beetle infestations includes pruning away affected branches, applying pesticides to the tree, and providing adequate irrigation and fertilization to promote healthy growth.
Consulting an experienced arborist is the best way to determine the cause of bark loss and to offer advice on how to treat the issue.
Environmental Stressors
Environmental stress can also be a major cause of bark loss in elm trees.
Extreme temperatures, either high or low, can cause bark to loosen or fall off.
Low temperatures can cause frost damage, while high temperatures can cause sunscald or heat damage.
Additionally, drought can cause the bark to become brittle and prone to cracking and peeling away from the tree.
Other environmental factors, such as wind and air pollution, can also lead to bark loss.
Elm trees are especially vulnerable to environmental stressors because of their shallow root systems.
This makes them more susceptible to fluctuations in the environment, as they are unable to access the same deep reserves of moisture and nutrients as trees with deeper root systems.
As a result, elm trees will be more likely to suffer from drought or extreme temperatures than other species of trees.
In order to determine if environmental stress is the cause of your elm tree’s bark loss, it is best to consult with an experienced arborist.
They can help diagnose the issue and offer advice on how to treat it and help your tree to recover.
This may include providing additional water during periods of drought or protecting the tree from extreme temperatures.
Additionally, an arborist can also provide advice on how to improve the overall health of your elm tree, such as pruning, fertilizing, and mulching.
Mechanical Damage
Mechanical damage is one of the most common causes of bark loss in elm trees.
This type of damage is usually caused by objects coming into contact with the bark, such as lawn mowers, trimmers, shovels, and other gardening equipment.
The bark can be scraped off, cracked, or even gouged in some cases.
This type of damage can also be caused by animals, such as deer and rodents, as well as construction equipment.
Mechanical damage can lead to further damage to the tree as well, such as infection from fungi or insects.
The exposed inner layer of the bark, called the cambium layer, is particularly vulnerable to infection.
To help protect your elm tree from mechanical damage, it is important to avoid using gardening equipment near the trunk, and to keep the area surrounding the tree free from debris that could cause damage.
Additionally, it is important to check the tree regularly for signs of mechanical damage.
It is also important to consult an experienced arborist if you suspect mechanical damage is the cause of your elm trees bark loss.
They will be able to assess the damage, determine the cause, and offer advice on how to treat it.
With proper care, your elm tree should recover and the bark should grow back.
Consulting an Arborist
When it comes to diagnosing why your elm tree is losing its bark, the best course of action is to consult an experienced arborist.
An arborist is a professional who specializes in the care of trees.
They have the expertise and experience to correctly diagnose the cause of your elm trees bark loss and provide the best advice on how to treat it.
When you call an arborist, they will likely come to your property to examine your tree.
During their visit, they will look for signs of an infection or insect infestation, such as discoloration or holes in the bark, and they may take samples for testing.
Based on their findings, they can make an accurate diagnosis and offer guidance on how to treat it so that your tree can recover.
They may suggest treatments such as pruning, fertilizing, or spraying the tree with an appropriate fungicide or insecticide.
Additionally, they can advise you on how to prevent similar issues in the future.
It is important to note that arborists are not able to guarantee the success of any treatment.
However, with their expertise and knowledge, they can provide the best advice available to help you restore your tree’s health.
If you suspect your elm tree is losing its bark, consulting an experienced arborist is the best way to get to the bottom of the issue and ensure your tree is given the proper care it needs.
Treating the Issue
When it comes to treating the issue of your elm tree losing its bark, it is important to first determine what is causing the bark loss.
As discussed above, the cause could be a fungal infection, insect infestation, environmental stress, or mechanical damage.
Once you have identified the root cause, you can begin to address the issue.
For fungal infections, such as Dutch elm disease, it is important to remove and dispose of any affected branches and wood to prevent the spread of the disease.
In addition, there are fungicides available to help prevent the spread of the infection and aid in the recovery of your tree.
Insect infestations can be treated with insecticides.
These are available at most garden centers and should be applied according to the directions.
It is important to note that insecticides should only be used as a last resort, as they can be harmful to the environment and other species.
If your tree is suffering from environmental stress, such as extreme temperatures or drought, the best thing you can do is ensure that it is getting the proper care and nourishment it needs.
Provide sufficient water, mulch, and shade to help your tree cope with the stress.
Additionally, you can contact a local arborist to discuss other ways to help your tree.
Finally, if your tree has sustained mechanical damage from lawn mowers or other equipment, it is important to repair any damage as soon as possible.
Prune away any broken or dead branches, and apply a protective coating to the affected area to help protect the tree from further damage.
Additionally, you can contact a local arborist to discuss other ways to help your tree recover.
By taking the time to determine the cause of your elm trees bark loss and addressing the issue quickly and appropriately, you can help your tree to recover and get back to looking its best.
Final Thoughts
Bark loss in elm trees can be caused by a variety of factors, ranging from fungal infections to environmental stressors to mechanical damage.
To ensure that your elm tree is healthy and can recover from the issue, it is important to consult an experienced arborist.
An arborist can help diagnose the cause and provide advice on how to treat it.
With their help, you can protect your elm tree and ensure its long-term health.