String Trimmer Damage to Peach Trees: Assessing and Preventing Bark Injury

Bark damage from a string trimmer can be serious—potentially fatal if the injury encircles the trunk. If bark was stripped down to the cambium layer (the living tissue beneath the outer bark), branches directly above that point lose their water supply from the roots. Complete girdling (damage all the way around) means the tree will die.

Prevention is simple: maintain a mulch ring around tree trunks so you're never tempted to bring mowers or trimmers close to the bark. If damage has already occurred, keep the tree well-watered and avoid wound dressings—trees compartmentalize injuries naturally.