I nicked my lilac tree & exposed green - Ask Extension
I inadvertently nicked my beautiful the bark of my lilac tree while cutting a rogue weed tree that is growing with it. I've exposed the green of the ...
Knowledgebase
I nicked my lilac tree & exposed green #581927
Asked July 20, 2019, 3:59 PM EDT
I inadvertently nicked my beautiful the bark of my lilac tree while cutting a rogue weed tree that is growing with it. I've exposed the green of the tree and I am now afraid that I've gave it a death sentence. Is there anything I can do to help it heal or prevent if from dying? I live in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. At this time we're experiencing a heat wave where it's 32C or 89F but with the humidity it's more like 35C or 95F. The bark is shaded by the rest of the tree and the hydrangeas in front of it. Thank you in advance for taking the time to answer my question. I'm so worried I've injured this poor tree.
County Outside United States
Expert Response
Thank you for your question. The injury you are describing is called ‘abiotic’ because is genesis is other than insects or pathogens. The following Extension article explains how to care for your lilac, and why it may be more resilient than you expect—if you treat it correctly: https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/_images/programs/hgic/Publications/HG86%20Common%20Abiotic%20Plant%20Problems.pdf
Hope this is helpful. Good luck!
