Help with sick tree

[LAC]

Can anyone help identify what is causing this? The bark is very brittle and comes right off.

 

[Jason Douglas]

Looks like "Southwest Disease" a type of winter sunscald. There is also some secondary dead/dying wood boring insect activity. Decay is likely to be found in the dead tissues as well.

 

[LAC]

Looks like "Southwest Disease" a type of winter sunscald. There is also some secondary dead/dying wood boring insect activity. Decay is likely to be found in the dead tissues as well.

Thank you for the response. Is there anything we can do to save it?

 

[Jason Douglas]

Cultural stress management. Mulch it, water deeply when hot in dry in the summer.

You can contact a local arborist to assess and treat potential or existing insect problems.