quote:

Originally posted by LincolnSixEcho:
Had a specialist look at it. He wrapped it and said it will be fine. Didn’t say how it happened he wasn’t sure, which I found interesting as he is a tree guy. I’m thinking now maybe it was sort of natural as the tree is growing. I asked my cat about it and he vouched for the neighbor cat that it wasn’t her.

Wrapped it with what?? His magical tree cloth that just happens to cost $100 and will heal all that ails ya?

Those scratches likely happened when the tree was younger, but as it ages they are more noticeable. Furthermore, there is no indication that they are harmful at this time: no sap, can't see any green wood through the damage.

The other possibility is that some sort of insect laid eggs in the fissures, and you'll just have to wait to see if they are harmful to the tree.

Finally though, there are A LOT of things that happen to trees. VERY FEW of them are fatal or cause ongoing or systemic damage. Most of the things that will outright kill a tree, do so quickly. Just leave it alone and take off whatever snake oil wrapping your tree guy put on it. The tree will heal itself, it's what they do, and they have been doing it for millions of years.