Q: I have young peach tree that I got too close to while using a string trimmer. Some of the bark near the base was removed. How should I treat it to avoid getting disease?

A: This could be a very serious injury. If the bark was removed down to the cambium layer below the woody outer bark, branches directly above that point won’t get any water from the roots. If the damage was all the way around the trunk, the tree will die. It’s always a good idea to have mulch around a tree trunk so you’re never tempted to get too close to it with a mower or a string trimmer.