Question
Hi Jim,

I recently purchased a healthy 3 year old Acer Japonicum "Green Cascade", about 4 foot tall, and planted it out in my garden, only to come home and find that my pet cockatoo had stripped a 1 1/2 cm x 30 cm portion of bark off one side (and smaller pieces on a few other areas) on the lower 2 feet of the trunk.

I don't think it's down to the cambium layer, as the exposed areas are pale and quite smooth (the phloem?). The pieces he removed are almost paper-thin, so it's not like he's actually gouged chunks out of the main wood. Just ripped off the "green" thin outer-bark. Nor has he "girdled" the tree.

I've cleaned up the wounds by carefully removing any jagged edges back to wood, but am still concerned about it's survival - Japanese Maples are supposedly very resilient, but what is your opinion?

The side with most damage is in shade all day - should I cover the wounds with grafting tape to help it retain moisture and prevent infection and protect it from the elements? What other steps should I take to ensure optimum conditions for healing? Do Japanese maples heal slowly, or fast...?

thanks
Sebastian
Daylesford, Australia  

Answer
Sounds like you have done everything I would recommend -removing the loose bark. The wound will heal itself. The only thing that might cause a problem would be borers attacking the wound. I would keep a close eye on it and IF you see any fine boring dust near the wound spray the wound with an insecticide called Merit. You may not be able to get that there but other insecticides for borers will work.