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Bark splitting in shrub/ tree

Hi, does anybody know why my californian lilac and prunus tree has died recently? The lilac flowered recently however over recent years there has been less and less foliage. In the last month all the leaves have fallen off and now there are deep splits in the bark.

The prunus also over recent years had less and less leaves and this year no leaves or flowers appeared.image

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Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340

    I don't know the answer, but I was interested so done a bit of googling.
    I came across a post from a lady with a similar problem - 

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/lancashire/content/articles/2008/01/08/cherries_feature.shtml

    It's quite long, so to get to the specific post, either search (Ctrl+F) for SPLIT or scroll down about 1/2 way and look fer her name - Angela Freeman

    I have vague recollections that it can also happen if there's been a bad freeze then a quick thaw, and much like a water pipe such conditions cause a split.

    There doesn't appear to be any obvious infection, but the roots may tell a different story.


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • DamonDamon Posts: 12

    Hi Mike/Pete, thanks for your replies. Think as the Californian Lilac has lost it's leaves then I presume its dead. This has happened literally within the last month or so. I'll have to remove it. This year we have had a few shrubs that have suddenly died off. The prunus will need to be cut down too. I have noticed that the prunus has loads of minute holes in the bark all over the tree too.

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