Repairing A Tree With A Bruised Trunk
 

I have a very young Japanese Maple that received a small hack in its
bark. (The bark is just peeled away.) The hack is about the size
of a nickel and is located about inch or two above ground level. Here
are my questions.

- Will this young tree be able to repair the damage and live a long and
healthy life?

- Is there anything I can do to treat the injury?

- Or it is pretty much game over and just a matter of time before
insects and/or disease find the weak spot and invade?

- If this is the case, should I just replace it now with a new Japanese
Maple?

Patrick

On 23 Jan 2005 19:35:05 -0800, wrote:

I have a very young Japanese Maple that received a small hack in its
bark. (The bark is just peeled away.) The hack is about the size
of a nickel and is located about inch or two above ground level. Here
are my questions.

- Will this young tree be able to repair the damage and live a long and
healthy life?

- Is there anything I can do to treat the injury?

- Or it is pretty much game over and just a matter of time before
insects and/or disease find the weak spot and invade?

- If this is the case, should I just replace it now with a new Japanese
Maple?

You do not indicate how big the tree is but inferring from your
description that the injury does not girdle the tree then it will
probably survive. Do nothing, anything that you do will only cause
more damage.

The tree should be able to isolate the damage area itself.

JMHO

John

Trim any ragged areas away to bark that is sound and tight to the stem.
This will allow the tree the best chance of healing.

On 24 Jan 2005 08:32:02 -0800, wrote:

Trim any ragged areas away to bark that is sound and tight to the stem.
This will allow the tree the best chance of healing.

I disagree. The ragged bark areas may be unsightly but they threaten
no harm to the tree. Unprofessional or careless trimming may result
in more harm. Leave it alone.

John

"John Bachman" wrote in message ...
On 24 Jan 2005 08:32:02 -0800, wrote:

Trim any ragged areas away to bark that is sound and tight to the stem.
This will allow the tree the best chance of healing.

I disagree. The ragged bark areas may be unsightly but they threaten
no harm to the tree. Unprofessional or careless trimming may result
in more harm. Leave it alone.

John

I agree with John...a tree will heal itself much the same way as the human body does....

On 23 Jan 2005 19:35:05 -0800, wrote:

- Will this young tree be able to repair the damage and live a long and
healthy life?

Yup. As long as it's not completely girdled

- Is there anything I can do to treat the injury?

1) If it's really fresh, and the humidity has been high continuously since
injury, and the flap is still intact, place it back over the naked wood,
and secure it with something that has some stretch to it, like a piece of
nylon stocking. Give it a few months, and then remove the "bandage", and
see if the flap is going to adhere. If so, do nothing. If not, go to #2.

2) If the flap has been hanging there drying out for days, or if it's missing
entirely, or if #1 didn't work, trim the edges of the remaining bark
smoothly, using something like a new single edged razor blade. Mulch
around the tree so you don't skin the bark again.
(aka "string trimmer blight").

3) If it's completely girdled, you may be able to save it with bridge grafts,
using twigs from the same tree. See:
http://www.hort.uconn.edu/ipm/homegrnd/htms/28graft.htm
If you don't have grafting wax, use saran wrap around the area till you can
get some and replace the saran.

- Or it is pretty much game over and just a matter of time before
insects and/or disease find the weak spot and invade?

Nope. Just change whatever weeding or trimming habit caused the problem
in the first place, if that's how it happened.

- If this is the case, should I just replace it now with a new Japanese
Maple?

Plants are pretty tough. They're not dead till they're compost.

Kay

On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 16:43:34 -0500, "LFR" wrote:


"John Bachman" wrote in message ...
On 24 Jan 2005 08:32:02 -0800, wrote:

Trim any ragged areas away to bark that is sound and tight to the stem.
This will allow the tree the best chance of healing.

I disagree. The ragged bark areas may be unsightly but they threaten
no harm to the tree. Unprofessional or careless trimming may result
in more harm. Leave it alone.

John

I agree with John...a tree will heal itself much the same way as the human body does....


Yes and no . . . trees have no immune system, cannot regenerate
damaged tissue, and do not "heal" but they can grow new tissue to
cover wounds. They are much better at doing this where proper branch
collar cuts are made, but this tree may well cover the area of missing
bark with new tissue eventually.

keith babberney
isa certified arborist