[Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[kikibud at cox.net]

Patte
85379
kikibud at cox.net

I purchased a Lysilloma from a nursery.  The 24" box tree had a small split in the trunk from the ground up to about 3".  I looked at all their trees and they were all the same.  I was told it was sunburn??  The tree is planted in the ground but the split seems to be getting deeper and wider with another split that started a couple of inches above this split.  This second split is about 2" long.  What is causing this and why is it progressing?  Am I going to lose this newly planted tree.  The rest of the tree appears to be healthy and the leaves.  It is getting new growth also.  Is there something I can put on the split to keep insects or disease from the tree?  Thx.