HORSE CHESTNUT TREE
By Masie
United Kingdom 
Hi everyone! Our horse chestnut tree is very large and we think quite old however we have recently noticed a considerable amount of long splits of the bark on trunk and main branches,any ideas what this could be? Cheers, Masie
9 Aug, 2009
Answers
I do hope it hasn't got any nasty seepage from the cracks? There's an incurable disease affecting Horse Chestnuts, sadly.
I can't remember its name...you could google it, though, or check out the RHS site.
10 Aug, 2009
It's some kind of canker that Spritz is thinking of and it is fatal, but the splits suppurate black stuff.
10 Aug, 2009
That's a good word - 'suppurate' - much better than 'seepage'!!
Poor trees, though - I hope it's not that, Masie.
10 Aug, 2009
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Could be thats its affected by lack of water, trees take about a year to show serious signs of water stress. Dry one year then an up rush of water.
Maybe just because of its age..
9 Aug, 2009