# Mower hit a tree root - should I attempt any 'first aid'?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mower-hit-a-tree-root-should-i-attempt-any-first-aid/545231>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 1, 2010, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mower-hit-a-tree-root-should-i-attempt-any-first-aid/545231 "2010-07-01T19:52:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mower-hit-a-tree-root-should-i-attempt-any-first-aid/545231/1 "2010-07-01T19:52:35Z")

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There’s a nice tree right outside my door that had rather large roots, some poking up slightly from the ground. Normally, I mow right over them with no problem but I must have been at a strange angle as I hit, and subsequently mowed off, part of a big root.

Fortunately, it’s a new mower with a new blade so it was a pretty clean wound. I shaved off about a 10" x 4" area of root, only about a half inch deep or so. There’s plenty of the root still underground.

Should I attempt anything to seal or protect this exposed area (e.g. from fungus)? I’ve tried reading online but haven’t found a lot of useful info for this situation, just preventative tips.

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**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mower-hit-a-tree-root-should-i-attempt-any-first-aid/545231/2 "2010-07-01T19:59:41Z")

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See

> **[Roofing tar to seal tree wounds? - GardenBanter.co.uk](https://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/gardening/108844-roofing-tar-seal-tree-wounds.html)**
>
> Hello, I have some mature oak trees in my yard that I had built a tree house in for my son about 6 years ago. I've taken most it down and after I

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**Author:** ![Ionizer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5daacb/32.png) [@Ionizer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ionizer)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mower-hit-a-tree-root-should-i-attempt-any-first-aid/545231/3 "2010-07-01T20:09:14Z")

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I have done such to plenty of trees in my years of mowing. Never seen any issue from it, especially on/from larger-diameter roots. If this was a small, just-establishing tree, _maybe_ a worry. But a mature otherwise-healthy tree…nothing to worry about as long as you give the wound a ‘healthy’ washing and let it be so it forms a callous (?) eventually.

You could get prophylactic-type of powders and/or sealants, but that is up to you as far as cost goes. Imho, not a problem for a ‘typical’ tree. Sentimental value can be worth the cost of such, so if desired, a wound-sealer may be good for peace-of-mind (if you are such a person, that is).

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**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mower-hit-a-tree-root-should-i-attempt-any-first-aid/545231/4 "2010-07-01T21:58:28Z")

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When I took some hort classes a few years back they were clear - leave it bare.