How to help heal a Leyland Cypress with scraped bark.

I damaged a 7' cypress and would like to know if I need to do anything to help it heal.
I read that the latest trend is to do nothing and let the tree heal itself. However there is a strong south wind where the wound is and temperature is dropping below 40F.
Here is a photo of the damage.

I probably would not do anything, but I would start to plan for the succession of this tree by planting another tree.  It is possible that the tree will heal and last many years, but it might always be susceptible to disease and decay, so if you plant it's replacement, when it is time to cut this one down, the replacement is well established.

I applied this healing paste made in Europe. The tree is fine, probably not because of the paste but because Leyland are very resilient. Will keep this thread updated to document changes.

Laurent, odds are that the paste will seal the exposed wood to protect it and at the same time allow the sap to form the scab needed to let the tree heal, winner situation there.

I have used a paste formula from an older English gentleman with good success in the past, his formulation did as I described above. There are only problems when you apply something that stops the natural scar healing process such as a tar based product.

Trees have marvelous healing mechanisms, the sap forms a seal then the bark grows back together, much as our own skin heals a cut.
Issues usually arise from insects getting to the exposed inner wood while the scabbing process is incomplete.

Redhawk

This is music to my ears, Bryant. Thanks for shifting the focus to the toxicity of the tar, which this paste doesn't contain. I say that because googling around or speaking with locals gets you many advises against covering the wound, their assumption is that tar is being used since it is the most readily available product. the transmission of knowledge is an odd thing.

At early stage my Leland blew over from being transplanted.  So I took a stake and rope and it stayed up.  Through the next few years I forgot about the rope. I looked at it last night and it has skinned over.  The truck below it is smaller.  now I am afraid that it will break off as it grows since I have strangled it.  Do you think it will damage the tree to try to cut through it and then wrap it with cloth to protect til it skins over?  I know that the bigger it gets it cannot get nutrients it needs.  I plan on topping some of it as it gets cooler.  Thank you for your help.

First thing I would do is try and carefully remove as much of the girdling rope as is safely possible. The tree can survive a rope-ectomy that is done in 1-2 inch cutout, you can space these cutouts around the trunk so only half the bark is damaged. A coating of elmers glue will keep pests out and allow the tree to heal. The trunk should then recover size over a few years.

First thing I would do is try and carefully remove as much of the girdling rope as is safely possible. The tree can survive a rope-ectomy that is done in 1-2 inch cutout, you can space these cutouts around the trunk so only half the bark is damaged. A coating of elmers glue will keep pests out and allow the tree to heal. The trunk should then recover size over a few years.

Redhawk