Voids in trunk of old elm.

[Oldknottired]

I was taking down a cherry tree yesterday, using an adjacent large American elm tree for lowering. I noticed a lot of voids in the trunk of the elm and larger limbs. The bark was open typically up to 1 inch in width and several inches in length. underneath was a void going perhaps 1-3 inches into the tree, wider than the bark opening, and usually tapered to a point at the center of the void. I noticed no evidence of rot, active insect feeding or fluxing.

Honestly, I'm not as familiar with elms as I wish, since most of the big ones in my area were dead or dying of DED when I got into this field.

Anyone have an idea what I'm seeing? Sorry I don't have a picture.

 

[Raintree]

Don't normally see those type of canker wounds on Elm. Pics would be helpful, is the tree on a golf course?

 

[Oldknottired]

no pics to show

thanks for the response Raintree. 3 weeks later, I got no pics still.

The tree is not on a golf course (good idea!). There is a local population of big woodpeckers, but the voids aren't really deep enough, I think.

Judging by lack of response to my question, I'm gonna file this in the "life's mysteries" folder.

 

[landscape doc]

Broken branch stubs not pruned to the branch bark collar can rot into next later before the callous growth seals it over.