Written by Steve Nix and published on https://www.thoughtco.com/
Unless you’ve spent some time in a forestry or arboriculture educational program, you’ve likely never even heard of included bark – and that is alright. Knowing what included bark is, or knowing how to define it is not important; however, identifying included bark on your trees can help prevent broken limbs and damage from falling branches.As a tree ages and grows, included bark becomes more of a danger to your trees and property. In New England, storms can deliver high winds and heavy snow that puts significant stress on tree branch unions, ultimately causing them to split and break at the junction.
Table of Contents
Problems with Included Tree Bark
Bark Inclusions Make for Weak and Unsafe Trees
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Included bark or “ingrown” bark tissues often develop where two or more stems grow closely together causing weak, under-supported branch angles. Bark often grows around the branching stem attachment and into the union between the two stems. Bark has no strong supportive fiber strength as wood does so the connection is much weaker than a union without included bark.
Pruning
All maturing trees are subject to having bark inclusions and need pruning while limbs are smaller and easier to remove. Any signs of a cracked weak branch angle (shaped like a V) with included bark that occurs on the main stem or any included bark areas on larger, lower limbs should be considered a defect. Connected stems with a supported U or Y shape are desirable. Proper pruning will help prevent included bark and encourage the proper shape.
Don’t Automatically Worry about Decay
The presence of decay by itself does not make the tree a hazard tree. All trees have some rot and decay with advancing age. Decay is a problem where the wood is soft and hollowed out along with the presence of mushrooms/conks. Take immediate action if advanced decay is present or associated with weak branches or included bark.
Signs for Concern
- A weak branch union occurs on the main stem.
- A weak branch union is associated with a crack, cavity, or another defect.
Original post here https://www.thoughtco.com/problems-with-included-tree-bark-1343312/.
