Why Is My Fig Tree Bark Splitting?

Discovering cracks or splits in your fig tree's bark is alarming, but it is not always a sign of serious trouble. Fig trees naturally develop a fissured, sometimes papery bark as they mature, and rapid growth in a good season can cause the outer bark to crack as the trunk or branch expands underneath. However, some types of bark splitting do indicate real problems — frost damage and fungal disease in particular — so it is worth knowing which kind you are looking at.

Natural bark expansion

Young fig trees that are growing vigorously in their first few seasons often develop long, longitudinal cracks in the bark as the trunk expands faster than the outer bark can stretch. This is completely normal. The exposed wood underneath should be pale, firm and healthy-looking. These splits usually callus over by the end of the growing season and require no treatment. You may see a milky white latex ooze from fresh splits — this is the normal fig sap and is not a cause for concern.

Frost cracks

A hard frost after a mild spell can cause sudden bark splitting — the rapid temperature drop causes the outer bark to contract faster than the wood inside, creating a crack, sometimes with a loud report overnight. Frost cracks typically run vertically on the south or southwest-facing side of the trunk (the side that warms up most rapidly in winter sun and then freezes hardest at night). The underlying wood is usually sound and the tree often heals the split over successive seasons. Wrapping the trunk in hessian or tree fleece during winter reduces the risk for young trees.

Freeze-thaw damage in branches

In a cold winter, young or poorly ripened fig wood is particularly vulnerable to freeze-thaw damage. The bark may split, and when you examine the wood underneath it will be brown and dead rather than pale and green. This indicates die-back in the affected branch — cut back to healthy wood (which will be pale green when you cut into it) and dispose of the dead material. See the separate branch die-back guide for more detail.

Fungal canker

Bark splitting associated with sunken, discoloured patches or areas where the bark feels soft and spongy, combined with die-back in the branches above, may be caused by fungal infection — Botrytis and other pathogens can enter through wounds or frost-damaged tissue. Cut back to clean healthy wood well below the affected zone and sterilise your cutting tools between cuts. Avoid leaving stubs and ensure cuts are clean and angled to shed water.

Over-feeding with high nitrogen

Applying excessive nitrogen fertiliser, particularly in late summer or autumn, pushes the tree into a flush of very soft, sappy growth that the bark struggles to contain. This rapid, poorly ripened growth splits easily and is far more vulnerable to frost damage in winter. Feed figs only in spring and early summer and use a balanced fertiliser rather than a high-nitrogen product.