Question by Dawn m: Will I need to take this Magnolia Tree down?
I have a magnolia in my front yard. a few weeks ago we noticed the trunk is splitting about an inch from the ground and goes up a couple feet there is also a dry green/blue colored moss growing on the trunk and branches and in the area of the cracks the bark is peeling off the tree. Should I take it down and if it can be treated will it be costly?
also just now discovered under a piece of bark some pincher bugs. the scattered under the rest of the back when I lifted it a bit.
it isn’t a very big tree, most likely we will take it down ourselves. not in danger of falling on anything. as for lightning I wouldnt even begin to be able to tell. But if it is going to be costly to save we will just take it down.
thanks for the info John, it actually does look like it may have been hit by lightning. Also the bark is all split and peeling right at the base of the tree.

Best answer:

Answer by John E
FIRST MAKE SURE THE TREE WAS NOT STRUCK BY LIGHTING.ITS VERY ODD THE TREE IS SPLIT DOWN THAT LOW.NEXT YOU CAN A TREE SURGEON TO DRILL WHOLE THRU TREE AND PUT A METAL ROD THRU IT TO TIGHTEN BACK TOGETHER AND PREVENT IT FROM SPLITING FURTHER.MAYBE NEED TO PRUNE IT OUT SOME TO LIGHTEN SOME WEIGHT TOO.THIS WILL HELP ALSO.THE BLUE GREEN STUFF YOUR SEEIN IS CALLED LYEKIN.NOT SURE THATS SPELLED RIGHT BUT HOW YOU PRONOUNCE.ANYWAY IT IS A FUNGUS THAT GROWS ON MOST TREES IN WET SHADED AREAS MOSTLY.SUNLIGHT CAN REDUCE IT.BUT TO REALLY GET RID OF TREE NEEDS TO BE SPRAYED WITH FUNGICDE.IF THE SPLIT IS REAL LONG AND LOOKS SHREADED AND FRESH IT WAS HIT BY LIGHTING.NOTHING YOU CAN DO ,IT WILL DIE AND WILL HAVE TOO COME DOWN.MAGNOLIAS ARE USALLY FARELY INEXSPENSIVE TO REMOVE.

What do you think? Answer below!

Tagged as: down, Magnolia, need, take, this, tree....