My husband accidentally injured a young maple tree we have growing in our lawn with a string trimmer. The tree is a young Moon Rise Maple that is about 2 1/2 feet tall. Unfortunately, the string trimmer took a whole ring out of the tree. See attached photo. Is there anything we can do to save our tree? It has great sentimental value to us and we are devastated that we've hurt it so needlessly. Thanks for your help.
Not much can be done now. The bark will not repair it self. It will callous over. The side with the stake protected the bark there, so the cambium layer of bark left on that side will help the tree to struggle along some-what. It will possibly sprout leaves on the wounded side for next year, using stored energy reserves from this year. You could have some normal growth on the untouched side, but the wounded side will die back for sure. You'll have dead branches on that side. The damage also opens the door for disease and insects. Quickly, pull back the grass from all your plants and put down landscape fabric/ bark mulch or some kind of a guard. Don't build a volcano. Keep mulches away from the tree trunks
It seems there is some cambium left: if you use Buddy tape (grafting tape) it will prevent diseases from entering throuh the wound and help it to heal faster. Alternatively, you can use wound sealant. If it's a ring that goes around the whole trunk, it's the only possibility to try and save it. Buddy tape is the best if you can find some.
Dewit tree wrap is made from breathable fabric (and university approved, what ever that means). I use it to cover a wound like that and it helps it heal faster. If you don't have any or can't find it or anything else mentioned so far. Then I reccomend elmars glue and cover it with the dull side of heavy duty aluminum foil. The dull side is the no stick side. It will bond to the glue, but still pull off and away as the wound wood forms underneath it. I use it all the time for large pruning cuts. They '"heal" faster and look great long term. I know it sounds crazy, but it's always on hand and it works.
