The sudden splitting causes a loud report or bang. The sudden change creates pressure between these two zones resulting in the wood cracking. The wood closest to the surface shrinks as water is lost quickly while the inner wood is not affected. Scientists believe it actually results from water moving out of cells and freezing during sudden drops in temperature. This unequal shrinkage or contraction between the bark and the inner wood causes the bark to split and along with it the wood directly below the bark. As the sun sets or is hidden by clouds, the temperatures drop quickly causing shrinkage in the bark while the inner wood takes longer to contract. Cracks are first initiated on a winter’s day when sunlight warms the bark and inner wood on the south or west side of the tree, especially on young trees with thin bark. Most commonly it is seen in sycamores, but it also occurs in maples, apples, cherries, horse chestnuts, lindens, walnuts and willows.įrost cracks are often found on trees that are out in the open where sun shines directly on the bark. Certain trees tend to be more prone to this disorder. These longitudinal openings referred to as frost cracks can extend deep into the wood of the tree. Very low temperatures in Michigan this winter have left some trees with vertical cracks. One such problem, frost cracks, can permanently damage trees. Below zero temperatures can create some unique problems for landscape plants. Often we do not see damage that happens over winter until spring. Subzero weather is hardly anyone’s favorite time to look for problems in the landscape.

State of decay 2 crack status