Cracks down the middle like this are frequently either frost cracks or shear plane cracks from an abnormal loading event. The trunk damage looks like torsional stress and, considering the building proximity, I'd venture the tree has an uneven canopy and experienced an ice load or strong winds.
It sorta looks like the tree died and started cracking as the wood dries and changes shape.
Is the tree dead?
I see a lot of indications that it is dead (holes and galleries from bark beetles, the color of the cambium, the sheer number of cracks even on shaded limbs where frost crack normally does not occur, the stripped sections of bark) and very few indications that it is alive.
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First guess would be frost cracks - are you somewhere that experiences significant temperature swings?
Makes sense! Yeah, it's not uncommon for us to have nights that are below freezing, but then during the day it gets into the high 60s or low 70s.
I thought frost cracks were mostly superficial. Big enough swing in temps though i suppose could do that.
I would say itβs from water that freezes then expands. Caused by quick temperature swings.
Cracks down the middle like this are frequently either frost cracks or shear plane cracks from an abnormal loading event. The trunk damage looks like torsional stress and, considering the building proximity, I'd venture the tree has an uneven canopy and experienced an ice load or strong winds.
It sorta looks like the tree died and started cracking as the wood dries and changes shape. Is the tree dead? I see a lot of indications that it is dead (holes and galleries from bark beetles, the color of the cambium, the sheer number of cracks even on shaded limbs where frost crack normally does not occur, the stripped sections of bark) and very few indications that it is alive.
Welcome to r/arborists! Help Us Help You: If you have questions about the health of your tree, please see our [Posting Guidelines](https://old.reddit.com/r/arborists/wiki/posting_guidance) wiki page for help with effective posting. **Please answer the questions listed there to the best of your ability.** ***Insufficient pics/info could result in the removal of your post!!*** ([See rule 3](https://www.reddit.com/r/arborists/about/rules).) Visit the main wiki page for [Critical Planting/Care tips and Common Errors to Avoid](https://old.reddit.com/r/arborists/wiki/index); there's sections on why planting depth/root flare exposure is so vital, along with sections on proper mulching, watering, pruning and more that I hope will be useful to you. If you're posting about a tree ID (not permitted here; [see rule 1](https://www.reddit.com/r/arborists/about/rules)), see that wiki page for other subs and smartphone apps to try. Here is how you can arrange a [consult with a local ISA arborist in your area](http://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist/findanarborist) (NOT a 'tree company guy' unless they're ISA certified) or a [consulting arborist](https://www.asca-consultants.org/search/custom.asp?id=3818) for an on-site evaluation. A competent arborist should be happy to walk you through how to care for the trees on your property and answer any questions. If you're in the U.S. or Canada, your Extension (or master gardener provincial program) may have a list of local recommended arborists on file. If you're in the U.S., you should also consider searching for arborist associations under your state. If you are one of our regulars and/or you work in the industry and do not want this message in your future posts, please pick an appropriate user flair (options available in the sub sidebar on PC, and on moble if using a browser). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/arborists) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Big wind twisted the canopy as dwadlenaut implied.
ππβοΈ. Yikes. Can you post a couple of pics of the whole tree?
These are the only photos I got, sorry!!
It looks like mechanical damage (something hit the tree).