Is Carving into a Tree Bad?

Besides being unsightly, carving into tree bark can injure, and even kill, a tree. ... Carving into the bark creates an opening which allows pathogens to enter the tree. These pathogens can then make the trees sick, which can lead to death in some cases. The bark also protects the xylem and phloem of a tree.

Does carving a tree harm it?

Depending on how deep the cut is, it may disrupt the cells below the bark, phloem and xylem, that are responsible for transporting water, sugar, and other nutrients throughout the tree. In extreme cases, carving or other bark damage can cause the tree to starve to death due to this cellular disruption.

Why carving in trees is bad?

Slicing through these layers disrupts the flow of water, sugar, and nutrients throughout the tree. In bad cases, the tree can decline or even starve to death. In Portland, carving isn't the only source of bark damage. Botched parallel parking jobs, lawnmowers, and careless weed-wacking injure valuable trees every day.