| [College of ACES] | [University of Illinois] | [Illinois CES] |
Unfortunately many animals will cause this problem.
The situation you raise withe the tree not dying is interesting. In fact
it is probably worthy of putting the concept of myth into some of our treatment
programms for bark injury.
Clearly non lignified xylem can differentiate to form cambium. Likewise when
bark is removed there is often cambial tissue left behind. Dehydration and protection
of these cell is the battle here.
Why does conventional education teach us to scrape these wounds clean. Why don't we seal
these areas with something like lanolin to prevent dehydration and encourage callous
formation.
I await the onslaught
Mark