Girdled!

15 years ago

Just in the past two weeks. Voles girdled three of my young apple trees at the ground line.

Is there any way to save them? Would a bridge graft work?

My only other thought -- last year, I had one girdled same way. I actually dug it, made a couple of slits in the bark above the damage, rubbed rooting powder in there, and replanted it deep. It grew and seemd ok going into the fall, so I think this will work. Of course, that method turns a dwarf or semi dwarf into a standard,but better than losing the tree.

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Comments (9)

calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
15 years ago
A bridge graft would be the best solution. Once bridged the graft will in time fill in the missing bark. Al
Konrad___far_north
15 years ago
Bridge might work if the top hasn't dried up yet, it usually doesn't work
in my dry climate.
You can also cut it and let the root stock come up, then graft later.
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bberry_gw
15 years ago
If they are small just harvest the scions and cut off the tree at the bottom of the girdling and bark graft several scions onto the stump even if you have to dig down a little. Perhaps you may then save the properties of the root stock. If you have extra scions graft them other places so you can save the original top for future work. After a similar experience I am rather fond of wire mesh.
alan haigh
15 years ago
Sometimes girdled trees heal, you just never know. I've seen trees rebuild a bark bridge during the growing season if the distance isn't far. I even saw apple trees growing in a shady location that had the bark stripped by goats up 5' that continued to live for many seasons and are probably still going. I really don't understand that one at all.

I've got 2 nectarines and a pluot girdled, but the situation is hopeless as the voles went up about 12 inches. In all the years I've been doing this I've never lost a single stone fruit tree to voles before and I never give them any protection- 25 years, 1,000 trees, 100 sites. I haven't grown many nectarines though, and this was my first experiment with a pluot. Guess their bark is extra nice!
lkz5ia
15 years ago
I've used the spiral tree guards and seems to keep voles from damaging my peaches that they loved girdling. Also have used tree wrap, and that deters rabbits, but voles don't mind chewing on the wrap.
mr.ed
15 years ago
denninmi I thought I remembered a pic of a granny smith with hardware cloth around it, did they dig under it, or were those trees unwrapped? Would be interested to know if they went under the wire.
User
15 years ago
Voles are tunnelers and they gnaw on roots as well as bark.
alan haigh
15 years ago
Pine voles are subterannean but I don't think meadow voles are likely to chew below the graft union. Anyway that's how they behave in NY. Pine voles have to be poisoned or trapped out in the fall or they can be devastating, snow winter or not.
User
15 years ago
I use cats. Pine voles are prolific breeders. Left unchecked they'll ruin everything.