Tree carvings don't always kill trees. That much is evident from the tree carvings made by the Basque immigrants that worked as shepherds in the US in the 19th century. Known as arborglyphs, tree carvings are often beautiful. Unfortunately, though they may be pretty to look at once a tree heals, tree carvings can harm, and even kill, trees.
Of course, tree carving isn't always done in the name of art. Sometimes, it is done as an act of vandalism or simply because someone wants to leave their mark. Whatever the reason, cutting into a tree's bark is not recommended, especially if the tree is on your property.
A Tree's Outer Bark is Its Armour
The bark of a tree serves much the same purpose as the skin of a human being. It covers and protects the innards of the tree, keeping diseases and pests at bay. Bark also protects a tree from harsh weather conditions. If the bark layer is removed, a tree begins to lose moisture and until the tree seals the wound, it is more susceptible to attack by disease or pests.
The Inner Bark Transports Food
If you cut deep enough into a tree, you penetrate the inner bark. The inner bark contains the transport tissues, xylem and phloem, tube systems that transport water and nutrients throughout a tree. The xylem tubes feed a tree's leaves with nutrients and water. In turn, through photosynthesis, those leaves create food, which is distributed by the phloem tubes.
Cut deeply enough then, and you interrupt the flow of water and nutrients throughout the tree.
Healing May Be Slow or Stunted
Beneath the food transportation tubes lies the cambium layer, which is responsible for producing new cells so a tree can grow. If a substantial portion of this layer is riddled with cuts by a knife, for example, the growth in that area will suffer. Healing will also be slow, leaving the wound open to disease and pests.
What may eventually happen is that the bark in the damaged area may fall off, permanently leaving that part of the tree exposed to weather, diseases and pests. Such a tree will eventually weaken and could die within a few years. In a forest, such a tree may provide shelter for animals. In a yard, a dead tree is an accident waiting to happen and needs to be removed.
If one of your trees is suffering due to wounds to its trunk, call an arborist to assess its chances of survival. Sometimes, even badly damaged trees can be saved with a healthy dose of TLC. For more information, contact a local tree removal service.
Share4 April 2018
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