white birch advice

I posted a a year or two ago about some strimmer damage I'd done to the base of the tree but can't find the thread. The tree is still going but on one side there is not much life strangeley enough the opposite side to the strimmer damage. Is there anything I can do to help encourage growth in this part of the tree?

 

Hi scotty

We need pics!!

Strimmer damage to the bark of the tree can also damage the cambium and water-conducting vessels that lie beneath. The tree then has to use the remaining vascular system to transport water around its entire system, putting greater strain of the tree as it tries to survive.

Ensuring that you do not strim the tree again by perhaps putting a guard around the tree, or removing the grass from around it, will help the tree, but you'll never be able to repair the damage that has already been done.

 

Thanks I've tried a several times to upload a pic without success, will keep trying. I've also managed to find my previous threads about this tree and have made some holes with a cane to allow water to get to the roots after I noticed that there was a patch of grass under the tree that looked a worse for wear at the same side as the bare bit on the tree.

 

Just managed to upload a pic called whitebirch. I also noticed yesterday that there are two small shoots growing in this area so might eventually even itself out, hopefully.

 

The small shoots are a response from the tree to the physical stress it is undergoing. If a tree is in decline it will produce new shoots in order to try and create a load of seed. There's nothing you can do regarding the strimmer damage. If the new shoots do develop into trees you'll probably end up with a coppice of sorts.

 

Thanks harmony. The new shoots are not at the base at the strimmer damage but above the existing lowest branch on the tree.