Hornbeam bark? I think

[Tbrshou]

So I collected this American hornbeam and the lower trunk is kinda barky. I tried to clean it lightly with a soft bristle toothbrush and water because I thought A.hornbeam only had smooth bark. 1) should I continue to attempt to remove it?
OR
2) Leave it alone stupid it belongs there?

 

[TN_Jim]

Nice find. Let it completely dry. Maybe put cut paste or such where you scrubbed it, maybe not. Looks like those areas were below ground, I’d let them heal and harden.

If it throws a new leader, wire it up or where you want it soon.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I’d probably scrub it again with an old toothbrush, but not to remove bark, just to remove old dirt. The color will even out over time. scrubbing the trunk can encourage extra buds in the spring.

Good trunk, the challenge will be to build some taper into that chopped area. Hornbeam are among my favorite trees.

 

[Hack Yeah!]

Nice one