Lil Help Please - no clue here

[GrimLore]

This is one of our Maples which seemed to do ok through Hurricane Sandy on the front deck protected from the winds. Since mid summer I have noticed the spots on the roots that almost look like maybe a rabbit was snacking. Either way I need to know if I should cover those brown spots with anything or Seems to be doing ok but I would hate to loose 4 years of training

Any ideas, thoughts, concerns, greatly appreciated

 

[Dav4]

It's real hard to tell from the pics (need close ups), but it looks to me like the bark was damaged a while ago and is callussed over...if so, no need to cover with anything I'm not sure rabbits would do that, but squirrels might.

 

[Attila Soos]

If you want to improve the root base, you might want to get rid of that big root anyway. So, the rat or squirrel may be doing you a service, by trying to chew it off.

PS.: As far as I know, rabbits may be too shy to go up to people's porches.

 

[Nybonsai12]

looks like a squirrel may have done that. in one day while i was at work a squirrel gnawed a good couple chunks out of my jade tree. it looked terrible. I hate squirrels now.

 

[GrimLore]

We have both and honest unless I have the dogs out with me BOTH the rabbits and squirrels walk right up to me - Serious as close as one foot away. I think this pic might be more helpful as it shows the damage. Honest I just need to know if I should treat the condition some way before it gets wintered down - saw snow flakes yesterday morning - ARGH!

 

[Poink88]

From here, it looks like an old damage that healed/callused over. Maybe the old bark stayed but just peeled off recently?

 

[jk_lewis]

That root is a bit large and out of proportio0n to the tree, so you might use this damage as a start toward some kind of carving to reduce the size of the root and add a bit of a different design element.

 

[GrimLore]

From here, it looks like an old damage that healed/callused over. Maybe the old bark stayed but just peeled off recently?

I did not mention the brown area has grown larger over the weeks, started out as less then a dime and is now the size of a nickel or more... Again, seems the tree is doing ok, just want to be sure I do not loose it for lack of attention and knowledge