Mike in American Fork, Utah recently planted an apple tree that's developed a problem. The trunk shows the bark near the graft union is starting to crack and peel away. Is this a root stock issue, or something else?
- The practice of grafting is very common in fruit trees, said Patrick Murphy, host of GLT's Grow.
- The grafting is done to initiate a dwarfing of the specimen.
- Grafts can change overtime.
- Freezing and expansion of water will impact the graft and weaken it.
- Grabbing a plant by the trunk is another way to have a negative impact on the graft. Only grab by the rootball.
- A critter nibbling on the tree can cause the problem , too.
- The tree can recover from this, leaving a wound behind.
- Don't cover or paint the trunk. Let it heal on its own.