Question: What can I do to help a shade tree that has lost most of its bark due to injury?

Answer: That's one of the really sad things of gardening. If all of a plant's bark is severed at any one height, as, for example, a line trimmer might do, the tree will very likely die from that point upward. Wait to see how serious the damage might be. You will generally know by the following growing season. Take great care to protect your trees' trunks during this project.