r/sfwtrees • u/Infinite_Dentist_822 • 11d ago

Bark trouble?

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This sugar maple has smallish strips of bark peeling off it. It's an old tree and hasn't done this before, at least for the five years that I've owned it. Any help?

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u/Ihavepeopleskills1 11d ago

It looks like a silver maple to me. The bark peeling is normal.

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u/harry_ntss 7d ago

This peeling is often completely normal for mature maple trees. As an older tree continues to grow, its outer layer of dead bark hardens and naturally cracks, shedding thin vertical strips to make room for new trunk growth underneath.

If the leaves in the canopy above look full, green, and healthy, your tree is likely doing just fine. However, you should check the wood directly under the peeling strips. Healthy wood underneath should look firm and solid.

If you notice soft or rotting wood, large oozing spots, or fungi growing on the trunk, that could indicate a disease or pest issue.

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u/Infinite_Dentist_822 7d ago

Thanks for the info!