apple trees, bark splitting, helpful advice?

[woodchuckcanuck]

We have two trees, a gravenstein and a gala, purchased from a nursery 5 years ago. Bark is splitting this spring. They produced a few fruit last year for the first time. Anyone know why the bark is splitting? If it is harmful to the trees, is there any recourse to fix it?

Gala


Gravenstein

 

[Raintree]

Looks a little like kids playing with something sharp.

 

[woodchuckcanuck]

No kids around here. Lots of wild animals though. Raccons, porcupines, beavers, coyotes, bears.

 

[Raintree]

Could very well be claw marks. If you got beavers put guards on those apples.

 

[scoutfinch]

Just saw it in 2-year old peaches. See it on older cherries and apples though it seems to be water fluctuation. We put white plastic tree wrap on young trees (Protects from the sun also prevents voles and mice from girdling them), but switch to hardware cloth and white wash on the older ones (left on too long,the plastic can make bug-inviting conditions. I have older, stretched out ones for the young trees, so they have air. It seems to be fine left on for 2 years). The white wash helps with the scald while helping spot borers. Some use a lime white wash, some use 50/50 joint compound and interior white latex paint, then cut that 50/50 water. I use whatever I have left over from jobs.

I mostly use the University Extension sites of Maine, New Hampshire, Minnesota, and Cornell for my gardening information.

Here are two links that may help you with the cracking:

https://plantclinic.cornell.edu/factsheets/barksplitting.pdf

https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/plant-diseases/print,winter-sunscald-frost-cracking.html

Also, I'd pull the wood mulch back from the trunks, most recommend 3"-6".

 

[square1]

split happens

Oops, my bad, you asked for helpful advice, I'm out