Elm Trunk Scarring?
- Thread starter Rhumphres01
- Start date
Gabler
Masterpiece
It looks like a spot where suckers were pruned off, and the tree healed over. It could also be that the tree was just accidentally damaged early in life, and it still has a scar unrelated to pruning suckers. It's hard to say, really. I wouldn't be concerned about it. Just keep the tree healthy and let time smooth it over.
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Likely a circling root at some point, it will likely become less noticeable over time, especially if it’s a corkbark variety.
Rhumphres01
Seedling
I was just really wondering more about the wrapping around sort of look that the scar has. Do you think it could be from an old attempt at using wire for a ground layer or something? The tree is in pretty good shape.
Rhumphres01
Seedling
That makes sense, it definitely looks like something was circled around it.
Shibui
Imperial Masterpiece
Circling root removed is a possibility but I suspect this is just the difference between bark exposed to air and weather and bark covered under soil level. Both roots and trunk have bark but it looks different depending whether it is above or below soil level.
Now that you have exposed the lower trunk I would expect the bark to change and look uniform all the way down to soil level. Even exposed roots will develop mature, above ground bark when they are exposed above soil level.
Now that you have exposed the lower trunk I would expect the bark to change and look uniform all the way down to soil level. Even exposed roots will develop mature, above ground bark when they are exposed above soil level.
jradics
Mame
I had a 14ft deodar cedar cut itself down in the yard one time. Friday it's fine, saturday it's on the ground. the stump showed that it had decapitated itself. That was my first exposure to circling roots.
Rhumphres01
Seedling
Shibui
Imperial Masterpiece
The back shows possible outer bark rotting below soil level. Many people panic thinking the entire tree will die but it is only the dead outer bark that falls off. Living bark resists rotting and continues to grow and protect the inner wood. It is relatively common in Chinese elm, more so with the corky bark types.
For bonsai it is a minor concern because it gives us inverse taper. My experience is the inverse taper is very temporary. The lateral roots below will quickly thicken the base of the tree and fix the reverse taper.
In corky bark types I've also rubbed off the corky bark above to maintain correct taper. In a couple of years new cork accumulates and corky bark is back to normal.
Smooth barked types shed bark annually so any inverse taper should be fixed next time the bark sheds.
Now that the area is exposed bark rotting should not be a problem. Allowing the surface soil to dry between watering should also minimize the problem where bark is buried.
For bonsai it is a minor concern because it gives us inverse taper. My experience is the inverse taper is very temporary. The lateral roots below will quickly thicken the base of the tree and fix the reverse taper.
In corky bark types I've also rubbed off the corky bark above to maintain correct taper. In a couple of years new cork accumulates and corky bark is back to normal.
Smooth barked types shed bark annually so any inverse taper should be fixed next time the bark sheds.
Now that the area is exposed bark rotting should not be a problem. Allowing the surface soil to dry between watering should also minimize the problem where bark is buried.
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