Expert: Jim Hyland - 10/19/2009

Question
Hello, My neighbor backed his truck tailgate into a magnolia tree aprox 15 years old.  He scraped the bark right back to the wood of the tree for about three inches.  Please help me as my Wife just found out and the house has been in the family for 50 years.  She is not impressed and is upset.
Thank you very much

Perry

Answer
It is not as bad as it seems. Cut the loose bark from around the wound. The wound will heal by itself. No need to put anything on it --pruning paint etc will slow the healing process. Over time --several years the wound will heal over. You will need to watch the wound next year for signs of insect attack. Borers sometimes will bore into the open wound being it is late in the year there is a excellent chance that they will not be attracted to it this year. IF you see boring dust or holes in the wood then spray the wound with an insecticide called Onyx this will kill the borer and prevent any further attack. I would also next spring fertilize the tree with 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of 1 lb of fertilizer per inch of trunk diameter scattered around the tree and watered in good. This will help increase the growth.