Bark splitting on Viburnum branches

Question: I’ve noticed the top layer of bark splitting open on branches of a 3 year old (otherwise healthy) viburnum close to the bottom . The entire branch then dues. I’m uploading a picture of the most affected branches but it’s also happening on smaller branches.

responder: Ask Extension Question Wrangler Pronouns: she/her/hers  Find your local Extension office here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/outreach/county  Find an expert in a specific topic here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/outreach/experts/experts-by-topic-area   Find home gardening information here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/home_gardening/  Order a soil test kit here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/soil-testing-returns-through-msu-extension   Mold questions? We don’t have an expert in mold, but we do have a few resources below or contact the  Michigan health department. Molds in the Home  Indoor Air Quality May be Hazardous to Your Health    Mushroom questions? We can’t identify, but we do have these three resources to help you: Identifying  Morel  Poisonous  MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Michigan State University occupies the ancestral, traditional and contemporary lands of the Anishinaabeg, Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi peoples. The University resides on the land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw.     Replied April 24, 2023, 3:30 PM EDT
response: Thank you for reaching out.  If you could please attach a couple more photos of the entire shrub?

responder: Ask Extension Question Wrangler Pronouns: she/her/hers  Find your local Extension office here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/outreach/county  Find an expert in a specific topic here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/outreach/experts/experts-by-topic-area   Find home gardening information here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/home_gardening/  Order a soil test kit here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/soil-testing-returns-through-msu-extension   Mold questions? We don’t have an expert in mold, but we do have a few resources below or contact the  Michigan health department. Molds in the Home  Indoor Air Quality May be Hazardous to Your Health    Mushroom questions? We can’t identify, but we do have these three resources to help you: Identifying  Morel  Poisonous  MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Michigan State University occupies the ancestral, traditional and contemporary lands of the Anishinaabeg, Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi peoples. The University resides on the land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw.     Replied April 28, 2023, 10:18 AM EDT
response: Cathy -- additional photos of the entire bush would be helpful.  Can you add some?

responder: The Question Asker Replied April 28, 2023, 1:21 PM EDT
response: I've added three more photos of our Viburnum and hope that helps.

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied April 28, 2023, 3:16 PM EDT
response: The bark splitting it is an indication of severe problems and cambium death (there is no living cambium in the bare areas or under the loose bark). There are signs of rots - I suspect, but can't confirm visually, that the plant has root problems or possibly a disease and is gradually dying.  Botryosphaeria canker, a serious disease of viburnum and many other ornamentals, is  another possibility. (The wound on your viburnum looks like it could be a canker, which is basically an open wound.) However, this disease is characterized by dead or wilted leaves, which you apparently are not experiencing. The fungus produces fruiting bodies that show up on bark and branches as brown to black, plump bumps. Bark becomes dark brown. The fungus gets into the plants through some injury and destroys the cambium. Cankers form, which girdle the tree,  effectively cutting off nutrients and water movement.  I can't say whether this plant is salvageable. It would need to be examined in person. If this shrub is valuable to you, I recommend you get a licensed arborist to evaluate it.  An arborist is a certified and generally insured expert in trees and their problems. He or she can examine your tree and make recommendations regarding the health of the tree, any needed judicial pruning, and whether or not (in his/her opinion) it should be removed. You can find a certified arborist in your area here:  http://www.treesaregood.org/  Click on "Find an Arborist" at the top of the page; then click on United States from the pull-down menu. Then enter your State and City. This should bring up a list of certified arborists nearest to you. Or you may be able to locate one under "Tree Services" in your local Yellow Pages.