The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Ask The Forester => Topic started by: kboilers on October 05, 2008, 08:41:17 PM

Title: White oak with bark problem
Post by: kboilers on October 05, 2008, 08:41:17 PM
 I'm just starting to learn about the trees on my property.  I think this is a white oak and there are spots on the bark, where the bark is gone.  As you can see in the close up, some of the areas without bark have little holes in them.  The tree is good size – about 3 ft in diameter before it branches out about 12 ft up.  Does anyone know what this problem is? 




(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11765/Tree.JPG)

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11765/Close_up.JPG)
Title: Re: White oak with bark problem
Post by: beenthere on October 05, 2008, 10:29:36 PM
From the pic, looks like it might be the beginning of some dead bark.
(maybe from an injury, or damage to the roots)

Bugs might be starting and wood peckers working to dig them out.
White oak will slough off bark and get that smooth look (but healthy yet).

How does the top of the tree look? Any dead areas, or branches?

Have the roots been covered over for any reason? like raising the ground level around them?
Title: Re: White oak with bark problem
Post by: WDH on October 05, 2008, 11:11:47 PM
Dark spots on the bark of oak signal heart rot.  However, the spots in your pics do not alarm me.  It might just be some animal or bird like Beenthere said.  However, I am no expert on white oaks. 
Title: Re: White oak with bark problem
Post by: Ron Wenrich on October 06, 2008, 04:41:38 PM
I know one logger that told me that white oak with patchy bark is wormy.  You won't see the worm holes unless you wet the end of the log down.  It won't make veneer. 

He used to also say that white oak growing in with pine or hemlock would be wormy.  I always trusted what he told me.
Title: Re: White oak with bark problem
Post by: SwampDonkey on October 06, 2008, 04:54:35 PM
Gee I hope that ain't true. There are a lot of white pine, white oak mixed woods in NH, not exclusively the two species mind you. But, a high percentage in the Exitor area of NH we used to go to my uncle's cottage. That's where I brought home white oak seedlings from. I'm not thinking my oak is wormy, but the mature ones growing all over down there.