The thin bark of some immature trees (maples, yes) may split for different reasons at different times.
1. Summer time splits-drought
2. Early fall hard frosts, before tree is dormant-when water freezes under the bark, it swells. Causes splitting.
3. As a tree comes out of dormancy in spring, (again) water is the culprit if a late winter hard freeze occurs.
The thin bark of some immature trees (maples, yes) may split for different reasons at different times.
1. Summer time splits-drought
2. Early fall hard frosts, before tree is dormant-when water freezes under the bark, it swells. Causes splitting.
3. As a tree comes out of dormancy in spring, (again) water is the culprit if a late winter hard freeze occurs.