Sugar maple–trunk damage

[BKSmith]

see images. Anyone tell me what’s happening to this tree, regarding the trunk damage. If anyone wants to comment on the ’Jack and the beanstalk’ growing pattern, have at-er.
Brad

 

[Raintree]

The growth habit is columnar, just the variety of maple you have. Old trunk wounds are from rough handling bruising. Remove the grass from around the stump and expose the root collar.

 

[Del_]

The growth habit is columnar, just the variety of maple you have. Old trunk wounds are from rough handling bruising. Remove the grass from around the stump and expose the root collar.

I agree.

I don't know that growth habit in a maple but take your word for it. It looks planted deep as no root flair at all is showing. That's some pretty serious damage on the trunk.

 

[holeycow]

Why does the root flare have to be exposed?

 

[Del_]

Why does the root flare have to be exposed?

A naturally grown tree with have some of the root flair, the buttress roots, showing.

If they are not showing the tree is usually planted to deep.

Planting to deep is the #1 error made when planting trees and the cause of problems often for the whole life of the tree.

 

[holeycow]

I will be looking more carefully at trees tomorrow