Birch, silver maple, and sycamore trees shed bark as a kind of charming eccentricity. Like a human sunburn, the damaged tissue may start peeling. It is when the tree otherwise looks unhealthy that you need to worry. Some beetles are known to use diseased or weakened trees to plant their egg colonies, by looking for cracks in the bark. (It appears that the mulch is currently touching the trunk.) Their exfoliating bark makes them an easy target for squirrels to pull off strips of bark for nesting material. But we will try everything you said and hopefully it will help.Regards,Paul L. Kerr. We have small dawn redwood tree and I noticed that the bark has been stripped off most of the tree trunk. The freezing night that follows then kills that newly awakened tissue and causes unsightly blemishes on the trunk. What our concern is, is the tree going to die and is there anything we can do to help it recover or just to save it? Signs of this can include: Cankers and other fungal infections attack trees through the bark and infect the inner layer. The first step you should take is to identify the type of tree that’s shedding. Sunscald is most likely to occur on trees with smooth and/or dark-colored bark. What Are The Signs? But older trees with harder bark will crack and split, and sometimes, the bark delaminates from the tree trunk, revealing the inner layer below. If you notice bark shedding under any of the circumstances below, you may need to take steps to protect your valuable tree. It didn't fall or shed off because there is very little on the ground. Unfortunately, this is a somewhat common occurrence with dawn redwood trees. Managing squirrels is very difficult so focus on minimizing any additional stress to the tree’s health by: 1.) These trees aren't only good at fending off forest fires because of their thick trunk, which holds a lot of water on the inside of the tree, but the tannins ward of any insects, fungus and diseases that will try to damage the tree. Frost crack can progress from falling bits of bark to deep vertical cracks, so you’ll need to act promptly to preserve the beauty of your tree. The damage created by these pests causes bark to break and slide off. Unfortunately, this is a somewhat common occurrence with dawn redwood trees. Like a crab shedding its too-tight shell, a tree must shed its old bark ‘shell’ to make room for the new, larger tree within. When pruning, leave enough canopy so the tree can shade its bark from intense sunlight. It’s very common in sycamores and can also happen to horse chestnuts, lindens, maples, and willows. Keep your tree well-watered except when the ground is frozen. It’s doubtful you’ll find anyone with more of a passion for tree care than Justin Shaw. Despite the name, it doesn’t just happen in winter. No worries there! If you see bark covering the wood after the old bark peels away, the tree is probably undergoing a normal shedding process. Cankers appear as lesions on bark in black, brown, or red. Warning Signs and Prevention of Tree Termite Infestation, Historical Trees of New Jersey: Tracing Old Roots, 4 Ways to Maintain Healthy Soil in New Jersey, Unusual occurrences of dripping or oozing sap. That warm afternoon sun can trick the tree into breaking dormancy. If the tree looks healthy otherwise, then it is probably nothing to worry about. This often causes the bark to shrivel, die, and fall off the trunk. Ask an Expert is made up of groups and individual experts. If you see bare wood or mats of fungus under the peeling bark, the tree is suffering from environmental damage or disease.