u/Calm_Instruction1651

Hi all — I’m in Central Texas and have a large, mature cedar elm (Ulmus crassifolia) that recently started dropping noticeable patches of bark, and I’m trying to figure out if this is normal shedding or a sign of stress/disease.

What I’m seeing:

• Bark pieces falling that are roughly ~6 inches long by ~3 inches wide
• No sawdust or soft areas on the bark and no obvious signs of insects, holes, sap, or fungal growth. Both downy and red bellied wood peckers hang around the tree.
• This is new behavior — I haven’t noticed it in previous years
• It seems to have started fairly recently and caught my attention because of the size of the pieces

Tree details:

• Large, mature tree (exact age unknown, but well established)
• Has appeared healthy overall in prior years – I’ve lived here 13 years

Location & conditions:

• Central Texas (hot climate, we’re in an "extreme drought,", recent swings between dry and wet periods as we had a very wet April)
• Tree is in a residential yard/ no recent construction, disruption to roots or trimming
• Leaf condition looks normal

Is this kind of bark shedding typical for cedar elms in this region?

Or could this indicate stress (drought, watering issues, etc.), pests, or disease?

Would really appreciate any guidance on whether this is normal behavior or something I should be more concerned about and what signs to look for next.

Thanks!