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I was out looking at my trees this morning and noticed this unusual black spot , any idea what it might be? 
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It looks like dead Cambium layer. It may have been winter damaged by a cold draft.Pete R - Hudson Valley, NY - zone 5b -
Pete should I leave it alone or is there something I can do to help it heal?Wish List -Comment
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There isn't much that you can do. Hopefully the area will become compartmentalized and the healthy cambium will grow over it in time. Cutting back the trunk and establishing a new one is another option. Its not recommended but I often use pruning sealers to protect damaged areas from exposure before the loss of bark and outer layers, like a 'bandaid'
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I was just thinking it could of gotten wet when I was watering during the winter and possible froze to the trunkWish List -Comment
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Here's a photo of a trunk that was exposed to a cold draft during winter storage, this was one of the lucky ones that's still alive. It will be cut back close to soil line and one of those lower buds will be trained as the new main trunk. Several others were already cut back to the soil line once the bark turned black. The pictured tree still has a single healthy upper branch that will be air layered.
Pete R - Hudson Valley, NY - zone 5bComment
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This has been educational, to the laymens eye, it looks like someone held a lighter up to itScott - Colorado Springs, CO - Zone 4/5 (Depending on the year) - Elevation 6266ft
“Though the problems of the world are increasingly complex, the solutions remain embarrassingly simple.” – Bill MollisonComment
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I scraped the trunk and it is all dead underneath the black goes approximately 3/4 around the diameter of the trunk I had 4 nice branches up top so I just finished air layering them , the tree was getting too tall anyway it was the first one to blow over in a moderate wind Once the air layers take I will cut away the black thanks for your help Dave
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