You may have noticed some rodent damage to your young landscape trees over the winter. You may have made a bonehead move and nicked a tree with your mower, scraping a good bit of bark skin from your tree.

Tree bark, often referred to as the "skin" of the tree, plays a crucial role in protecting the tree from environmental stressors, pests, and diseases. But what happens when this protective layer is damaged? Can tree bark grow back, and if so, how?

The Function of Tree Bark

Tree bark serves as the first line of defense for trees, much like our skin does for us. It protects the inner layers of the tree, including the phloem, which transports nutrients from the leaves to the rest of the tree. The outer bark, or cork, acts as a waterproof barrier, shielding the tree from moisture loss and external threats.

Can Tree Bark Grow Back?

While trees can repair minor bark damage, major bark loss is a different story. When a tree loses a significant portion of its bark, it cannot regenerate the lost bark in the same way it grows new leaves or branches. Instead, the tree will develop thick, encrusted ridges around the damaged area to protect itself.

Helping Your Tree Heal

If your tree has suffered bark damage, there are steps you can take to help it heal. First, assess the extent of the damage. If the damage is minor, you can smooth out the edges of the missing bark to allow for clean regrowth. For more severe damage, it's best to consult with a professional arborist who can provide expert advice and care.

Preventing Future Damage

To prevent future bark damage, consider placing a protective barrier around the base of your trees. This can help shield them from lawn equipment and rodent activity. Additionally, regular inspections and maintenance can catch potential issues early, ensuring your trees remain healthy and strong.

Thank you for reading, and I hope that you have found this information on the function and protection of tree bark interesting and helpful.

If you are interested in planting trees in North Dakota, we can help. We are a licensed North Dakota nursery, and a licensed landscape contractor in Bismarck, North Dakota. We have trees available for retail sales, and we also provide tree planting services near Bismarck, North Dakota. All of our selections are trees hardy for North Dakota, and many of them are trees grown in North Dakota. If you are looking for a wind screen tree row, a large North Dakota shade tree, or even just some landscaping trees near Bismarck, we are here to help with all of your North Dakota tree needs.

To see a few of our services offered: Tree Nursery, Landscape - Tree Rows 4 U - Bismarck, North Dakota 

To see some of the trees we have available: Trees (treerows4u.com) 

To contact us to order trees or to inquire about having us plant trees for you:
Tree Rows 4 U