| A dog has peeled vertical strips of bark from our tree. Should we treat the wound with any type of protectant or just leave it alone? Do you think the tree will recover? |
| There is no product that helps trees to heal from this kind of injury...only time and the tree's natural healing ability will do the trick. If the tree is very young and has lost a lot of bark, or if bark was removed around the entire circumference, it may not survive. Loss of bark increases the chance of secondary infection by fungal disease. All you can do is provide the best possible conditions for the tree. Make sure it receives plenty of water during dry spells, and mulch the tree out to its dripline to minimize competition for nutrients and water. |
