Sugar Maple Bark Peeling

[TreePointer]

Reilley, in determining red vs. sugar maple around here, the leaf edge makes it pretty clear.

Fine toothed edge
http://www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=1

Smooth edge
http://www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=2

When helping the Boy Scouts with their Forestry merit badge, we use binoculars help to get a better view of leaves that are high above the ground.

 

[reilley]

Reilley, in determining red vs. sugar maple around here, the leaf edge makes it pretty clear.

Fine toothed edge
http://www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=1

Smooth edge
http://www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=2

When helping the Boy Scouts with their Forestry merit badge, we use binoculars help to get a better view of leaves that are high above the ground.

It is definitely a sugar maple. I do have one red maple in the front and a neighbour has a very large red mable in the yard behind mine. They are quite brilliant in the spring and show different colours in the fall.

Upon further investigation by my "tree guy" (I won't call him an arborist, I don't know what credentials are required for the title, but he running his Tree Doctor business for 30+ years), the trunk from which the co-doms branched from was split 18+ inches down the middle. I decided to take it down.

After taking a look at the rest of my trees I see that there is one other in the same condition, although it does have some new leaves on it. The bark is also not as bad...

Does it sound right that the bark splitting is related to the trunk splitting about 20-30ft above?