Browning on arakawa maple

[jesse3489]

Hopefully this picture shows what I am asking about, I understand that on some maples the bark darkens before it matures, this on the other hand leads me to believe it is some sort of fungal infection. This part of the trunk is directly below an air layer, I would assume that if this is an infection that branches would start to show signs of weakening but there are juicy plump buds that exist in the middle of this browning on the bark. Most of this part is going to be chopped off but I am wondering if anyone else experiences this on their maples regularly as I do, and what they do to avoid it.

 

[leatherback]

sorry, but completely unclear what you mean.
Arakawa bark is gnarly and corky; I assume that is NOT what you are referring to.

 

[jesse3489]

sorry, but completely unclear what you mean.
Arakawa bark is gnarly and corky; I assume that is NOT what you are referring to.

I mean the places in between the gnarly bark. The bark is normally green but has turned brown over the past week or so. The air layer looks like it may not make it, but I have faith it will root. I figured it might be die back from where cut the cambium for the air layer.

 

[WavyGaby]

It looks like lichen, which is no problem. Is that light colored area in the bottom of the pic a damaged/missing portion of bark? If so, and you see it callousing, its a good sign of health.

 

[jesse3489]

I think these two pics display it best, I'm not super concerned about it as the rest of the tree is doing wonderful below the air layer. I love this tree I'm just trying to learn so I can mitigate any potential future damage to the branches that will be the future of this tree. Wonderful bark on mine.

 

[rockm]

Nope. Thats the way arakawa bark develops. Btw. Typically this cultivar can have difficulty backbudding on older wood. Cutting or pruning a branch to bare wood on a tree with mature bark can kill the remaining branch as the buds can’t break through the cork. It’s happened with my 30 year or mature arakawa in my backyard. The top was broken out by ice and the long remaining branch stub did back

 

[jesse3489]

Nope. Thats the way arakawa bark develops. Btw. Typically this cultivar can have difficulty backbudding on older wood. Cutting or pruning a branch to bare wood on a tree with mature bark can kill the remaining branch as the buds can’t break through the cork. It’s happened with my 30 year or mature arakawa in my backyard. The top was broken out by ice and the long remaining branch stub did back

So it's totally normal? I figured the tree seemed to be growing fine, nice to know my baby is doing alright.

 

[rockm]

This is my landscape arakawa (ignore the black snake) several years ago. Note the bark.

 

[WavyGaby]

This is my landscape arakawa (ignore the black snake) several years ago. Note the bark. View attachment 605773

Nice bark for a snake to exfoliate themselves. If this is common, maybe I shouldn't grow rough bark varieties anymore, lol!