My Tamarack (larch) has lower trunk damage and poor root emergence, can I air layer the trunk for new roots? Its at least 10-12 years old.

[Corrado]

Ive been working with this NY Larch for a long while . The trunk is about 3/4" thick. But right at the soil line it looks like its worn away a section of bark and the roots dont emerge radiating the way Id like. Its healthy otherwise with well foliated branches. So my thought was next spring to either girdle a 1/4 strip off at the base soil line or twist a wire tight around the trunk and re bury it lower into either sphagnum moss or bonsai soil And give it a full growing season. Does anyone know if this will work out or will i kill,the tree. I need facts not speculations. Looking close at the trunk at soil line you can see that weird developement .

 

[Russ1]

Hard to see, your camera is trying to adjust for the light/white colored background and makes the tree darker.
Just a theory, Not A Fact, Maybe make some vertical cuts/notches around the trunk and put rooting hormone gel with spagnum and bury that in the soil. I saw this in an old Bonsai Magazine.
Worth a shot. Maybe someone who has done it with a Larch will chime in.
Not the same plant but had that issue with a P. Afra, , rodent damage, I know these root easy but... I buried that and it re-rooted.