I may kill my grandson's best friend...

6 years ago

I just went outside to walk my dog. I'm in a house we've rented now for nearly 20\ yrs on Martha's Vineyard. There are several large conifers in the yard.

I noticed that the garage door was open. When I walked by one of the largest conifers, I was appalled to see that my grandson's friend had peeled the bark off about a 2-3 ft long area - about 6-8" wide. He even went into the garage to get a hammer to "aid" him in doing so. This is a smart boy who turns 15 next month! I know his parents and his grandparents and have for 39 years. He's my grandson's best friend when we're here!

I've Googled bark repair and gotten conflicting info. What do I do to keep this tree from dying or being badly harmed?

What on earth was he thinking....

Featured Answer

jalcon

6 years ago

Your best bet is to do nothing and I def don't advise doing the above. Recipe for moisture to get in and cause other issues. Let it heal on its own - it most likely will.

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Comments (11)

lisaam
6 years ago
We recently tried to repair damage to a magnolis tree's bark by fitting the lost piece into place and securing it with duct tape. It's been about a month. I don't know when we should try to remove the tape band-aid and see how well the first aid worked.
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tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
6 years ago
At most, tidy up ragged edges and ask the lad why he did it. Definitely leave it open...no paint and no patching.

tj
User
6 years ago
Leave it be. I ripped off a 10"X7' strip of bark last fall from a poplar tree and it has healed over already.
PRO
Anglophilia
Original Author
6 years ago
Geeze, 15 yr old boys often have no idea why they do things. He's a very nice boy, nice parents, lovely grandparents, well brought up. I think boys that age gave occasional "brain farts". The only cure is another year it two of age.

Thanks for your help. We live this house and I always feel very responsible for it when we're here. It's not a typical rental house. It was there summer home for years when the owner taught at a boarding school and lived in faculty housing. They rent it for 4 wks each summer and are here the rest of the time - it's a real home and we feel very lucky to rent it each year.

Fingers crossed the tree will be okay. I'm going to insist this boy come and apologize to the owners when the return to the island.
Ontario_Canada5a_USDA4b
6 years ago
Geeze, 15 yr old boys often have no idea why they do things.

GW has such a 15 year old boy too.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years ago
Trees suffer bark injuries all the time - mechanical damage, rough handling, deer rutting, squirrels pulling off for nesting material, 15 y.o.boys, even a car door scraping off portions. As long as the damage does not circumvent the entire trunk, the tree will heal itself without any intervention.
plantkiller_il_5
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
howard garret,,,the dirt doctor dot com talks about a bark repair poultice that you mix up and apply to injuries,,,check his site

ron
whaas_5a
6 years ago
If more than 50% of the perimeter was removed its going to be a tough recovery.

Less than 50% you are usually ok with no problems. May need to be more diligent in watering it during drought though.

If exposed to direct sun, like southwest I'd shade it a bit.
User
6 years ago
No bark repair anything!

It WILL seal over but will take a few years. My yard is filled with recuperating, deer-rutted tree trunks!
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
he knew exactly what he was doing.. and should be held fully responsible..

and his parents should be contacting the owner ...to pay up ...

and the lessor should demand replacement... not some hope and dream on a skin graft ... its a tree .. they may or may not 'heal' ...

one problem is tree time ... it could die.. anytime in the next 5 to 10 years .. which is a nice amount of time.. for the new plant to get established and growing .. instead of waiting ...

perhaps the lessors have insurance to cover such incidents ...

the only thing im sorry for.. is that you are caught in the middle of a horrible circumstance ...

ken

I may kill my grandson's best friend...

jalcon

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lisaam

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I may kill my grandson's best friend...

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