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Stripped Bark on Redbud

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From: Kelvin Carpenter City: woodward, IA
I was transplanting a 6 foot red bud tree and I nock some bark off the tree about 1/4 the way around the tree right at the base, What can I do to save the tree or fix it. Thank you Kelvin Carpenter
	Extension Message From: Jay Hayek Extension Specialist, Forestry Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences jhayek@illinois.edu
Greetings Kelvin, Assuming that only 25% of the tree's bark was affected, the tree should have a moderate to high likelihood of survival. The only thing I would suggest is to carefully trim the jagged or rough bark around the damaged area. Do not apply any wound paints or sealants. Let the tree compartmentalize the wound on its own. Monitor the tree over the course of the growing season.
From: Pete Lenzini City: Urbana, IL
I just scraped a redbud with my mower wheel, peeling back a piece of the bark about 6 inches high and 3 inches wide. The edge of the piece is still intact attached to the tree. the tree is a few years old, about 10 to 15 feet high and the trunk's diameter is about 4 inches. I saw one suggestion on the web to place the bark back where it was peeled from and to wrap it with duct tape, left in place for a year or so. Any suggestions? Thanks, Pete
	Extension Message From: Christopher Evans Forestry Extension and Research Specialist Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences cwevans@illinois.edu
Trying to fix the torn bark back on to the damaged wound is likely to be ineffective. I would recommend trimming the portions of the bark that have been separated and let the tree compartmentalize the damage on its own. If it is an otherwise healthy tree, it should have the ability to seal over this wound.
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