Equipment isn't the only thing that breaks under the pressure of subzero weather in Wisconsin. Olivia Witthun, DNR Urban Forestry Coordinator just shared an article about Frost Cracks in trees Is That a Crack in My Tree?
I've seen cracks like these in my Maple trees at home, now I understand that they are frost cracks. Frost Cracks are straight long cracks that can run up the entire length of the trees trunk.
Frost cracks happen because the bark cools down faster than the inner wood when the temperature . This commonly occurs in trees that have thin bark such as Maple, Linden, or Sycamore trees, but it can happen in other species as well. If the temperature change is sudden, you may even hear a loud bang from the tree splitting.
Once the frost crack is there, there is nothing that can be done to fix it, much like a scar on a person, it will remain, but, you'll want to ensure that the wound doesn't affect the long term life of the tree. You should inspect your trees annually for signs of decay, insects, or to see if the tree has been compromised structurally. Trees with frost cracks would benefit from a little extra TLC in the warmer months such as mulching and/or composting under the canopy of the tree, watering when we're in a dry spell, proper pruning, and soil aeration.
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