Knowledgebase
Sugar maple wound #873517
Asked June 17, 2024, 6:15 PM EDT
I have a sugar maple which got badly scraped by a buck when I first planted it two years ago. The wound has mostly scarred over since then, and the tree has been thriving, but there is still a strip of exposed wood. Does this make the tree vulnerable to wood decay or heart rot fungi? Could this become an issue when the tree is older? Thanks
Washington County Minnesota
Expert Response
Trees are remarkably good at sealing off wounds. The trouble comes in when the wounds are deep and girdle the tree. Rabbits often girdle young trees. It cuts off circulation and the tree can no longer move water and nutrients up to the canopy.
Your tree looks like it has healed well. As long as it has continued to leaf out on all sides, it should be fine.
