No idea where to post this, but this was a question that I had about what my eleven year old sister has been doing. She has recently come to the conclusion that pointlessly chopping at the beautiful old trees in the woods where we live, the equivalent of carving her initials into them about twenty times at once. My mother and I told her that it gives them diseases, but she has informed me that it amuses her and she doesn't trust me to google it. So, does anyone know whether it actually hurts the trees or not, or have links about it or whatever?

They don't have nerves or a brain, so no.

Yes, it can hurt them, they can get diseases from injuries. If she cuts all the way around the tree, she could kill the entire tree by girdling. Trees don't heal in the same way animals do; their "healing" is more like growing around the injured area rather than repairing it, so, in a sense, an injury to a tree is forever. Even if the tree covers up the injury, it is always there, and this part is subject to rot.

Here's an article about injuries to trees:

http://home.ccil.org/~treeman/shigo/SURVIVE.html

Another thing to think about. If the tree isn't yours and is on someone else's property it is vandalism.

Besides hurting them, it's also a pointless lack of respect for life.

I don't have proof or anything, but if the cut is deep at all, it lets bugs in and that includes termites. It could kill a tree and all of it's neighbors...
Also if that tree is close to a house, it could ruin the house. I have seen homes destroyed by them on extreme makeover home edition. They haven't blamed the trees close to the house, but have removed them all while rebuilding.

So, does anyone know whether it actually hurts the trees or not, or have links about it or whatever?
Carving into a tree usually damages the phloem, xylem and the cambium, compromising its ability to transport nutrients efficiently as well as leaving it open to fungal and bacterial infestations and making it more vulnerable to being eaten by animals who love the soft inner parts of the tree.

Carving into a tree usually damages the phloem, xylem and the cambium, compromising its ability to transport nutrients efficiently as well as leaving it open to fungal and bacterial infestations and making it more vulnerable to being eaten by animals who love the soft inner parts of the tree.


Yup.

Depending on how bad the infestation is, it could kill the tree. That's a nice way to immortalize your name. :rolleyes:

It may also be considered graffiti and illegal where you live.

hey! you people took all my replies!!:lol:

Helloooo remember Ferngully?

"can't you feel its' pain?"

:lol: :D

http://www.montrose.net/users/backpacker/aspenart.htm

check it out - I've seen examples well over 100 years old.

Carving into a tree usually damages the phloem, xylem and the cambium, compromising its ability to transport nutrients efficiently as well as leaving it open to fungal and bacterial infestations and making it more vulnerable to being eaten by animals who love the soft inner parts of the tree.
:wayne: :smitten:

:wayne: :smitten:
:o Hey, where's the 'curtsy' smiley when you need it? :bow:

THANK YOU ALL! Oops, caps lock.

Helloooo remember Ferngully?

"can't you feel its' pain?"

:lol: :D
Hehehe.... THat was a good movie!