Hope you're right FN. The older tree is certainly dying - all but 2 scaffolds died last year. But when I saw the tree next to it peeling bark so copiously, so much like the dying branches on the other tree, I began to worry.

Dave: There is a condition known as sunscald which occurs in northern latitudes when the low-angle rays of the sun strike the trunk while ambient temperatures are way below freezing. This causes thermal shock on the trunk, and can result in bark splitting. Many growers in northern locations paint their trunks with white latex for that reason. It is debatable whether you are far enough north for this condition to occur, but in northern Nebraska it may be possible. Truth be told, there there may be other factors at work here, and it is not always possible to pin them down. Stuff just happens to trees, and if it does not seriously affect the health and productivity of the tree, you can be grateful for that. If these are full-dwarf trees and they have made it to 14 years without serious issues, that is pretty good in itself. Dwarfs will not compete with standard or even semi-dwarf trees for longevity. My semi-dwarf trees that are older than 15 years have lots of bark scaling on some of the upper limbs, but they continue to soldier on and produce, and I don't plan to remove them. It sounds as if you attention to spraying is very good, but I don't think there is any chemical spray that could have prevented bark splitting, and assume that the white worm was just taking advantage of a place to hide. Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

you dont want to take the time to rotate the pix.. but i should take the time ... blah.. blah.. blah ... 2nd pic.. why the giant staking procedure .. how big is that tree. and how long has it been there???? is this a fruit tree or an ornamental flowering cherry???? third pic.. any conifer that does not grow is dead ... but dead ones cna hold their needles for a year or so.. until hot weather browns them.. and makes them fall off ....is it supposed to be yellow??? or blue/green ... but dead ones.. eventually shed leaves ... i say.. rotate this pic.. and post it in the conifer forum ... [what the heck did you edit out of that pic.. lol.. the neighbor standing in your pic with a silly grin????] i know the first pic is a problem.. but i am blanking on it ... ken

I haven't been on GW in a very long time and am just getting back into gardening as the weather in Brisbane improves. I planted an apple tree in a nature strip a year or two ago, but I had to abandon the patch when a neighbour trashed the site with branches and prunings to discourage me from gardening there. Today, I went back and dug up the tree to plant in my courtyard. The tree had been growing in long guinea grass and still had bougainvillea prunings strewn over its branches. After I had planted it in its new hole, I noticed there was a soft rotting area of bark where the grass had been trapped by the prunings. When I rubbed away the soft outer bark, sections of the wood had been progressively exposed. The section of affected wood is on the trunk above the graft. I suspect this is collar rot or canker? The wound mostly looks like a large split running down the trunk and exposing inner sections of the wood, surrounded by the soft bark. The tree seems otherwise healthy, vigourous growth, and it has its leaves out, even in July. What do I need to do to treat the wound? Even if the wound does not seem to be affecting the apple tree's health now, could it shorten its life or cause problems later on? Corey