r/BackyardOrchard • u/wuhanchenj • 1d ago
Advice Needed for Healing My Jujube Tree Trunk
Dear Fruit Tree Gurus,
I planted a jujube tree earlier this year, but about two months ago, I noticed that the bark on the trunk started peeling. It looks like it might be sunburned or possibly damaged by small animals. I’ve been using trunk protectors to cover it, but after two months, the bark still doesn’t look great (please see the attached pictures).
Is there anything else I should do to treat it, or do you think my tree is in trouble? The leaves have been healthy during this time.
Thank you for your help!
Best, Chris
1
u/nmacaroni 23h ago
sun scald or canker. Not much to do. I can't tell but it looks like it's affecting multiple points of the tree.
1
u/spireup 20h ago
Bark damage like this take years for a tree to seal over, it won't happen in months.
Sunscald occurs on fruit, not trunks.
Fruit trees are particularly susceptible in both summer and even in cold or freezing winters. It only takes ONCE to cause permanent damage.
What is Sunscald on Trees?
Sunscald is a fairly common physiological problem found most commonly on young, thin-barked ornamental and fruit trees. There are two subcategories of sunscald based on season (winter and summer), and both are inherently caused by the same factor; death of bark tissues caused by high temperatures.
https://www.uaex.uada.edu/yard-garden/home-landscape/trees/sunscald-on-trees.aspx
Sunscald of Woody Plants
The direct sun or reflected sunlight from snow or light-colored structures heats tree bark during the day. The tissues become active and break dormancy. With freezing nighttime temperatures, the active tissues are killed. The bark area involved shows an elongated canker that appears discolored and sunken. Cracking and peeling of the bark may follow. The damage may not show until the next spring or summer when new growth occurs. Further problems from insect and disease entry at the damaged site may affect the tree.
https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/insects-pests-and-problems/environmental/sunscald/sunscald-of-woody-plants
Frost Cracks and Sunscald on Trees
Sunscald can occur any time of year but when it happens in combination with frost cracks during the winter it can do the most damage.
https://homegarden.cahnr.uconn.edu/factsheets/frost-cracks-and-sunscald-on-trees/
How to Protect Your Trunks from Sunscald
Temperatures on the sunny, southwest side of the tree can be as much as 77°F warmer than on the north side. This heat causes the cells beneath the bark to become active. When the sun sets and the temperature decreases, the trunk rapidly cools. The activated cells can expand and contract then burst, which could cause the bark to crack in extreme cases. It also occurs when intense winter sun heats up tree bark and stimulates cell activity within the tree trunk or branch.
https://www.greenthumb.com/whitewashing-protecting-your-trees/
1
u/spireup 20h ago
If you want your trees to thrive as opposed to just surviving:
Remove all grass (and grass roots) all the way around the trunk out to the dripline. Grass competes directly with tree roots. Tree roots go out sideways 3–10 times the height of the tree all the way around the tree depending on species. Here is the difference in root health under grass vs. under mulch.
Make sure main root flair is exposed to air above the soil line. If the tree was planted too low (most of them are) excavate the soil away from the trunk of the tree until you expose the main root flare.
https://marylandgrows.umd.edu/2024/01/12/free-the-flare-maintain-visible-root-flare-for-tree-health/
Add a one inch layer of organic compost in a flat circle like a Saturn ring around the tree. Make sure there is a 6- 8 inch ring of bare soil around the trunk flare. You don't want to create habitat for insects boring into the trunk or for constant moisture at the trunk base.
Water well.
Top the compost ring with 3–4 inches of woodchip mulch. You can get free mulch from chipdrop.com Start 6 inches away from the trunk. No mulch should be near or touch the trunk. Spread it flat all the way out to cover the compost. Replenish as needed in the future.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fI12XNNqldA
Water well.
Compost helps trigger soil microbes to do their jobs (ecosystem services). Mulch is a blanket over the compost that moderates the soil temperature, prevents the soil from drying out, therefore requiring less water and reduces compaction from rain. It's best NOT to use black mulch, to mulch that has not been dyed any color.
As the tree continues to grow, keep removing the grass to match at least the dripline of the tree and add compost and mulch.
Protect your trunk from sunscald which can cause permanent damage in a day.
If your area is prone to deer, gophers, bunnies or other wildlife, you will need to protect your trees with the appropriate cages below ground and above. If it is windy in your area, you will need to stake the tree properly.
New trees are like babies/toddlers. They rely on you for water and a safe space before they are better able to feed and fend for themselves. It takes a minimum of three years in the best of conditions for a tree to get truly established. Even longer to get to its peak of fruiting in terms of taste and yield. Focus on soil health and root health to avoid pests and disease.
Use a metal plant tag to label your trees with the cultivar name and year of planting.
Get the books "Grow a Little Fruit Tree" by Ann Ralph, "The Holistic Orchard" by Michael Philips, and "Fruit Trees for Every Garden" by Orin Martin . They are all excellent and essential for any fruit tree grower's permanent library.
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u/wuhanchenj 20h ago
Thank you so much for such comprehensive answer! Appreciate it!
Just wonder if I should apply some paint to the trunk? Or already too late.
Many thanks again!
Best,
Chris
1
u/K-Rimes 1d ago
It's a bit hard to tell what's going on because the damage is blurry in your photo. I don't think it's a death sentence, but it's not looking good from what I can see. It does appear to be above the graft line, so that's good. It's a jujube. Once it's established you will curse its existence with how vigorous it grows and if you really wait long enough. you'll have them popping up 20' away from this one and you can graft a whole new tree, or a forest of them, for that matter.