U of M Gardening Information: What's wrong with my plant?

Willow > Trunk/Branches > Bark chewed, removed or missing

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Dead branches within the canopy
Yellowing to brown leaves may be present
Groups or rows of small (<2 inches wide) semi-circle shelf fungi along killed branches or on the main trunk, often near cracks or wounds
Schizophyllum shelf fungi are white and appear fuzzy on top
Cerrena fungi are white to greenish grey and have concentric rings on the surface
Trametes shelf fungi are tan to brown with darker rings
Wood below fungal shelves is yellowish to white, spongy, crumbly and decayed
Bark around fungal shelves is killed and often falls off
Common on trees stressed by drought, winter injury, wounds, mechanical injury or other factors
More information on Sapwood rot...

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Long lines of shredded or peeled off bark along main trunk up to 3 feet off the ground from antler rubbing; wood may appear shiny or "polished"
Leaves and small branches (<1 inch diameter) cut off with a rough or ragged edge; not a clean cut!
Feeding occurs from the ground up to 6 feet or slightly higher; ragged edges, same as above; if the bark is removed by a deer there will be no teeth marks
More information on Deer feeding/antler rubbing...

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Bark is completely removed from the main trunk, only young trees are damaged
Regular scraping the size of a spoon tip can be seen in the wood
Damage can occur from ground level to several feet up the trunk depending on the depth of winter snow
Small twigs are cleanly cut off with a sharp edge, at a 45 degree angle
Majority of damage occurs in winter and early spring
Rabbit droppings (small, round pellets) often found near damaged tree
More information on Rabbit feeding...

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Credit: Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources Archive, Mn Dept of Natural Resources, Bugwood.org
Credit: USDA Forest Service - Northeastern Area Archive, Bugwood.org
Credit: USDA Forest Service - Northeastern Area Archive, Bugwood.org
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On young trees, bark is completely removed from the main trunk in irregular patches
Scraping the size of fork tines can be seen in exposed wood
Damage occurs during winter from the ground level up to winter snow depth
Trees and shrubs appear to "die suddenly" during the growing season, especially if they experience any drought stress
More information on Vole feeding...