A patch of dead bark on the south or southwest face of a young, thin-barked tree, usually between the ground and the lowest branches. Early on it looks faintly sunken and off-color and sounds hollow when tapped; later the bark cracks at the edges and sheets off, leaving dry bare wood with a sharp raised callus rolling in from both sides. If a row of trees was planted together, the damage lands on the same face of every affected one — that repeating pattern is what separates it from a mower or animal wound. Newly planted maple, cherry, crabapple, linden, honeylocust, and young thin-barked oak are the usual patients.
Not urgent
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The cambium — the living layer just under the bark that builds new wood and moves food down to the roots — was killed in that patch, and the tree is now conducting around a dead strip. A narrow strip gets grown over in a few seasons and leaves a scar. A strip that wraps far enough around leaves the tree partly girdled, and the crown above it thins as the remaining live tissue gets overloaded. Either way the exposed wood becomes an open invitation to borers and canker fungi that would not touch intact bark.
This is normally a tree trimming job, which around here runs $250 to $1,400 depending on size and access. Treat that as a range, not a quote — nobody can price it without seeing it.
278 N East St, Plainfield, IN 46168
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Alyssa Wiegand · 5 months ago · Google
4883 Gibbs Rd, Plainfield, IN 46168
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Sammy Smith · 4 months ago · Google
7701 S County Rd 375 E, Mooresville, IN 46158
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Jennifer Spencer · 2 years ago · Google
7532 Brattle Dr, Camby, IN 46113
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Susan McAllister · 3 months ago · Google
9188 W County Line Rd, Camby, IN 46113
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David · 3 months ago · Google
240 Old North Salem Rd, Danville, IN 46122
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James Gillespie · 12 months ago · Google
5150 Mecca St, Indianapolis, IN 46241
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4141 W Southport Rd Lot 10, Indianapolis, IN 46217
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P Ellis · 4 years ago · Google
1078 IN-236, Danville, IN 46122
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Jacob Sharp · a year ago · Google
820 S Roena St, Indianapolis, IN 46241
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Jenny Rollins · 2 years ago · Google
1401 Lindley Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46241
Listed on Google but not yet reviewed there. Ask them for recent local references when they call.
Listed direct: (317) 513-2407
1407 W Epler Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46217
“I’ve used them twice now at two different properties. I’ve been in the green industry for 30 years. These people know what they’re doing, they do it…”
Steve Wicker · 3 years ago · Google
Distance measured from Plainfield.