Tree bark splitting in the winter months on young fruit trees, broad-leaf or ornamental trees can be quite common. It is disturbing to walk out and check your young plantings and find that dreaded bark split. The splitting is lengthwise on the trunk or major limbs and normally on the south or southwest sides of the tree. It is a common problem in growing zones that have nice warm winter days and then rapid temperature drops at night.

There are treatments such as wrapping the young trees with tree-wrap tape, paper or burlap. I have seen people apply a white plastic wrap or even tie a wide board upright on the south side of the tree trunk to protect their trees.