Q.: My Japanese maple is about 20 years old now. The trunk is divided and I have thought of securing the two trunks together with something because of the extra weight of snow and ice in the winter.

Q: We have a beautiful Autumn Blaze maple tree with a split trunk bark. We’re wondering if it’s dying and if there is anything to be done to save it. We’d sure appreciate any advice. — Cliff and Nancy ...

A reader recently asked why some of her apple trees had splitting bark. She wonders if the tree eventually will die. Splitting bark occurs because of many factors at any time. Cornell University has ...