The big snow split our old weeping Japanese maple (3-feet by 4-feet wide). The trunk cracked apart vertically about 2 inches wide and way down the middle. Should we tie it loosely around the stem so ...

Q: My redbud tree is about 5 years old. Last year's storms split the trunk a few inches. What can I do to help or repair it? A: That happened to a lot of redbuds -- and other trees, for that matter.

Once leaves drop from trees, splitting, peeling, bleached or oozing bark may become more noticeable. The cause can range from normal bark development to environmental causes or disease. If tree bark ...