How to Heal Chitalpa from Damage

Q. I have a Chitalpa tree that faces west with lots of direct sunlight. The tree bark has separated from the trunk leaving the inner portion of the tree exposed. There are very few leaves on the tree. Help!

Not the treaders tree but if chitalpa like this is put in a part of the landscape without enough water applied over a wide enough area under the canopy then the tree can struggle.

A. The tree trunk has sun damage. Probably because the tree’s lower limbs were removed too soon. This sun damage has caused the bark to be easily lifted from the damaged part of the trunk. Sunburn has cooked the living part of the tree that faces West while the side facing East may still be alive.

This is sunburn on a locust tree. This side is facing the sun, probably the south or west side. The tree is surrounded by rock and t his can reflect alot of heat and light back at the trunk and cause greater damage. Paricularly if the tree was limbed too high at the start.

            Sunburn of the trunk can leave it exposed to other problems like wood boring insects (borers) and diseases like sooty canker. Let’s hope it is just sunburn on the trunk causing the poor growth.

Locust tree has sunburn on the upper surface of its limbs.

            My concern is that the tree might be surrounded by rock. Reflected heat from the rock can damage the trunk if the tree was pruned so the lowest branches are removed. Not a good idea when the tree is young and the trunk susceptible to sun damage.

            When trees are young, leave the lowest branches attached to the trunk to help shade it from sun damage, particularly from the West side. Remove lower branches when the trunk gets older and develops a thicker bark layer that insulate it from direct sunlight.

Tree wounds like this large one can heal by the cambium layer "rolling over" the damaged area and eventually burying it.

            If there are no insect and disease problems, the tree will heal itself by “rolling over” its new growth on top of the damaged area. The tree just needs adequate water and fertilizer to do this.

            Apply water to a large area under the canopy. This area should be at least half the area under the canopy. Apply enough gallonage so the applied water wets the soil to 18 inches deep. Although this tree can handle a rock landscape, water it as frequently as fruit trees and other non-desert landscape trees.