Tree bark pulled off by dog. - Ask Extension
I have a puppy who pulled off 54" H x 2-3" W section of a Linden tree (age of tree approx.7 years, 18" dia) , as well, as a smaller portion 31" H x...
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Tree bark pulled off by dog. #146754
Asked August 12, 2013, 4:44 PM EDT
I have a puppy who pulled off 54" H x 2-3" W section of a Linden tree (age of tree approx.7 years, 18" dia) , as well, as a smaller portion 31" H x 2-2.5" W section of a Maple tree (same age tree, 15.5" dia). Is there anything an arborist can do to help the trees survive? Is there anything that can be done to prevent further damage by insects or sun? The damage on the Linden faces East and the damage on the Maple faces South.
Jefferson County Colorado
Expert Response
Thanks for photos and good description.
Imagine the tree trunk as a 360 degree round pipe delivering water upwards, but only in the outer 1/4 inch of the pipe. Your puppy shut down (removed) about 15% of the pipe, so only 300 degrees of pipe remains available to transport water up to the leaves. This could later result in some dieback of twigs and leaves.
I don't think you will lose either tree from the puppy damage alone, but you can try to carefully remove any unattached bark. Avoid cutting into any still-attached bark. As much as possible, try to keep water from collecting in the wound or bottom of wound -before watering the lawn, try taping a white plastic "tent" from up above wound draped over protective fence pickets so as to shed rain or irrigation water.
Spray a fungicide in the wounds now and again fall, early winter and next spring.
If they are healthy, you should see the trees start to develop "woundwood" at the edges of the wound, an effort to seal over the wounds; this will take many years to accomplish.
Imagine the tree trunk as a 360 degree round pipe delivering water upwards, but only in the outer 1/4 inch of the pipe. Your puppy shut down (removed) about 15% of the pipe, so only 300 degrees of pipe remains available to transport water up to the leaves. This could later result in some dieback of twigs and leaves.
I don't think you will lose either tree from the puppy damage alone, but you can try to carefully remove any unattached bark. Avoid cutting into any still-attached bark. As much as possible, try to keep water from collecting in the wound or bottom of wound -before watering the lawn, try taping a white plastic "tent" from up above wound draped over protective fence pickets so as to shed rain or irrigation water.
Spray a fungicide in the wounds now and again fall, early winter and next spring.
If they are healthy, you should see the trees start to develop "woundwood" at the edges of the wound, an effort to seal over the wounds; this will take many years to accomplish.
