How to Take Pine Bark Off of a Tree Without Hurting the Tree

December 5th, 2011

Tree bark is like a tree's skin. It protects the tree from damage from insects and disease. It is the protector of the phloem, the layer of the tree that transports vital nutrients from the leaves that the tree needs to survive. When tree bark is damaged in any way, the phloem layer is damaged as well. While you cannot take the bark off a pine tree, or any tree, without hurting the tree, you may be able to remove a small section of bark without killing the tree or causing permanent damage.

Difficulty:
Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

  • Large knife or cutting tool
    • 1

      Cut a vertical line through all the layers of bark and the edges of where you want to strip. Use the edge of your knife or tool to separate the bark from the rest of the tree.

    • 2

      If any damage to or removal of the bark goes less than 25 percent around the tree, the tree should recover if you keep the wound covered.

    • 3

      Immediately treat bark damage or removal that goes from 25 to 50 percent of the way around the tree. Cut an oval around the circumference of the damage and cut out as shallow of a portion as possible that removes the damage and any rough edges so that the tree can heal properly. Keep an eye on the wound, leaving it open and unsealed.

    • 4

      Call a tree-care professional if bark removal or damage goes more than 50 percent around the tree. Without this level of intervention, the tree is at risk of dying.

    • 5

      Plan on having to cut down a tree that has had bark removed all the way around. This is referred to as girdling, and is a method used to kill trees by starving them. A professional may be able to do some repair grafting to give the tree a chance to live long enough to heal, but the tree will most likely die.

Tips & Warnings

  • There is no way to remove bark from any tree without hurting the tree. All you can do is to inflict as little damage as you can, and take action to repair it.

  • Pine trees are especially susceptible to beetles and disease. Their top-heavy nature and shallow rooting system mean that a dead pine tree is at a high risk of falling over in extremely windy conditions, particularly when the ground is very wet.