Sapling pear girdled by weed wacker

[moss]

A good friend had his yard maintenance work done recently and found that one of his young pear trees (1.5" diameter approx.) was girdled by a weed wacker. This must be a very common problem. It appears that the cambium is still intact or partially intact. Is this a wait and see situation? Declare it done and replace? Or is there something that can be done to help it heal?
Thanks,
-moss

 

[nytreeman]

Maybe apply some pruning seal and see what happens if some of the cambium layer is still intact it may survive but odds are it will be weak or prone to rot at the wound.I see that all the time with trimmers and mowers even on older trees,people get too close to the trunk and repeatedly cut the tree and then wonder why the tree is sick/dying.Young trees and esp fruit trees should always have a screen or some kind of protection around the trunk to protect that tender bark from animals and careless people.