Life Sciences Commons^™

Sp630 Bark Splitting On Trees, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Bark splitting and sloughing results from a number of environmental factors. Sloughing or peeling of the bark is a normal process, especially in the spring when the tree begins to grow, and is more noticeable in some species than in others. The outer layers of bark are dead tissue and cannot grow, so the outer bark must split in order for the tree to grow in diameter. The inner bark is living, and forms a new protective coat as the outer bark pulls apart. If you look closely at normally furrowed bark, you will not be able to see the …

Sp631 Bacterial Wetwood Disease Of Trees, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Wetwood is a water-soaked condition of wood in the trunk and branches of trees. This condition has been attributed to bacterial infection in the inner sapwood and outer heartwood area of the tree. Infection is normally associated with wounding or environmental stress on the tree. The bacteria, Enterobactor cloacae, has been implicated as the cause of wetwood in elm, but numerous other bacteria have been associated with this condition in other trees such as cottonwood, willow, ash, maple, birch, hickory, beech, oak, sycamore, cherry and yellow-poplar. Bacteria alter wood cell walls, causing moisture content of the wood to increase. …

Sp629 Growing Trees From Seed, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Often seedlings or saplings for a desired but uncommon tree are not commercially available for planting. Growing trees from seed is an effective method in obtaining these trees. Some people may wish to preserve offspring of a favored parent tree or just enjoy growing trees from seed as a green thumb project. Knowing when and how to collect and germinate tree seed is essential for success.

Seeds are a primary means of trees perpetuating themselves. The proper handling of seed through the processes of ripening or maturation, collecting, processing, storage (if needed), dormancy, stratification and germination is required for success …