If you love your trees and know the benefits they grant your property, you might wonder how to save a tree with damaged bark. As the qualified tree service professionals in Bethany, CT, GM 2 Tree Services, LLC uses all their knowledge and experience to save a tree whenever possible. We’ll help you understand the importance of tree bark and how to help a tree heal.
How Damaged Bark Affects a Tree
A tree’s bark protects it from the weather and bug infestations. More importantly, it helps distribute nutrients throughout the tree. When a tree loses its bark in a complete ring, it can no longer feed itself and will eventually die.
Trees don’t heal the same way as animals and major damage may affect how a tree branches out or how it feeds and protects itself. After minor damage, the tree will form a callous over the wound. As a general rule, a tree can heal from bark damage that covers less than 25% of its surface area.
Methods for Saving the Tree
If you’re wondering how to save a tree with damaged bark, you should rely on the professionals for help. Without the right experience and knowledge, you could cause further damage to the tree. This means you’ll eventually have to pay to remove the tree.
Damage Assessment
A tree expert must first assess the tree to determine the extent of the damage and whether they think the tree can survive. If the damage covers between 25%-50% of the tree, they’ll give it a good chance it will recover with the right tree bark repair. With damage over 50%, even the best tree wound care has a small chance of success, but an arborist will likely still try.
Bark Tracing
Experts can use tracing for minor bark damage recovery. It removes any jagged or uneven piece of bark that could hinder the tree’s natural recovery process. The arborist will cut around the wound, leaving a smooth area where a callous can form.
Bark Replacement
If you’re wondering how to save a tree with damaged bark, consider replacement as part of your bark injury treatment. This method works when you see pieces of the bark peeling off but that hasn’t fully detached.
The tree service will wrap the bark in duct tape and give the tree time to heal. The process can take several months.
Bridge Graft
A bridge graft is among the most advanced tree healing techniques and it can give a heavily damaged tree a small chance of survival. This inserts a graft (a stalk from another plant) over the ring of damage, which can help nutrients bridge the gap.
Never Hire a Tree Company That Uses These Practices
If a tree company suggests any of the following techniques, prioritize a provider with more knowledge and experience.
Applies a Sealant
Sealing the wound only provides superficial protection. It traps moisture in the wound which makes it extremely vulnerable to rotting. Over time, this rot spreads to previously healthy sections of the tree.
Cleans the Wound’s Debris
Cleaning rotting debris from a cavity wound can easily pierce the compartment wall. This leaves the tree susceptible to further damage and rotting.
Paints Over the Wound
Tree paint makes the tree look better, but hinders healing. It asphyxiates the area, which can have a negative chain reaction for the rest of the tree.
Schedule Tree Care Services Today
Now that you know how to save a tree with damaged bark, you can reach out to GM 2 Tree Services, LLC for help. From tree bark protection to saving damaged trees, we do it all with incredible results and impressively competitive prices. You can contact us at (860) 940-5783. Get a free estimate.