Thanks John! He's had a lot of trouble lately! Done!

I would also make a little cage made of aluminum screen, or something that has small holes that the critters can't get to and wrap it around the base and up the trunk as high as you can go. Zip tie to close. Rabbits will do damage to trunks of trees.. I don't know about squirrels..

Here's a pic!

Off topic Laura, but your soil is lovely. Interesting how I now look askance at potted plants in peat. The 5:1:1 just looks healthy and right somehow.

Thanks Ubro! Yes, I do love the 5-1-1 mix...it really has worked wonderfully for my trees.

The tape and paint is a bad idea because it creates a damp environment for pathogens to grow in. Read this: https://puyallup.wsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/403/2015/03/wound-sealer.pdf. Jinnylea's idea is a good one. Use 1/4 inch hardware cloth.

Ok, so reading Vladimir's link freaked me out. This morning I went and removed the tape to make sure all was ok with him....this is what I found...incredible! Vladimir, I do think that article is right, but I think the tape allowed the tree to heal itself so to speak...it was a miracle! I did put the tape back on and will check it about every day or so to make sure it is totally closed up then remove it altogether. I think I caught this right after it happened and because the wound was fresh, it just closed itself right back up!!

Hooray!! I am happy for you that it worked.

Thank you Vladimir and John! I was floored it had just closed up!!

After much reading (thanks Vladimir) and internal debate, I removed the tape since it is totally shut. It dried out and looks like it never happened now, although I will watch for signs of infection. Mother Nature truly is amazing and these trees' ability to heal quickly is mind-blowing. I know it's not fully healed internally, but it's a promising start. Here's one more pic from just now...

Well, I think that article is bogus. Imagine trying to do a T-bud without tightly wrapping the "wound" with tape. You would get zero success! Laura, what you had (likely a rodent bite) is essentially the same thing. As for the white paint, it not only discourages critters, but more importantly protects against sunburn, which can kill your tree. I have many times used the black electrical tape method to restore branches that get broken by humans or machines in my garden; and I have never had anything but complete success. Be sure that if you had not put the tape on your small wound, it would not have healed.

Happy for you Laura! Darn varmints!

John, it should be ok now though, right? It is healed up. I figured the air would just help close it up. It is true what you say, I also see the bacterial issue as a potential problem though. I do notice that Stan McKenzie sent me trees with tape still on them on the graft.

Grafting tape and electrical tape both have the ability to stretch when growth occurs.

Laura,

Your tree should be fine now; but I would still paint the trunk. The reason(s) commercial growers paint their trunks is not just so they will look pretty.

I know that people paint them to prevent sun scald. I never have and have not had any problems but I live in Massachusetts, not Arizona. I Googled whether it was necessary to paint the trunks (in the Northeast) and came across this article that says mixture of paint and joint compound protects against rodents and borers: http://fruitgrowersnews.com/article/painting-tree-trunks-protects-against-rodents-borers/

+1 for white paint on trunk. I have used acrylic paint diluted with water both for painting trunks and covering graft callus tissue. No issues until now.

You all realize that while red-green use duck tape for every thing, electrical tape is far better for citrus and Most other things. LOL.

Steve 6b micro Cincinnati, OH

I just got back from HD and bought a tiny jar of white latex paint. I will paint it a bit later when it is not so roasting hot! In the interim...I wrapped aluminum foil around the trunk while I went out. I was afraid that stinkin squirrel would return in my absence...

So glad that you removed all of that tape; that worried the heck out of me.

Laura, will you be mixing the paint with joint compound?

Vladimir, I was just going to go with straight latex...I don't think I have the patience for mixing...do you really think it's worth it?

Meaning, I was not going to dilute it. They did not in that link you sent.

Laura,

It works as well diluted or undiluted; it only goes further if you dilute it.

From what I understand after reading that article, the joint compound makes the paint thicker and less palatable to the critters and more difficult for the borers to bore through.

Ok...thanks guys. How much of the trunk should I paint? I'll post a pic later of the trunk (my kids are at a swim meet - can you say ROASTING!!). It branches out from pretty low down. I think it is a grafted tree based on its shape.

Paint it up to where the top of the tape was before.

Paint the trunk that is not shadowed by leaves.

Poncirusguy, yay for the Red Green reference!! Didn't think anyone else had ever watch that show as no one I know had ever heard of it.

Laura, I think you caught that tear so soon after it happened that the cambium layer was still nice and damp so it sealed up fast! Yay for you too!

Thanks Barb! Yes, it is pretty well sealed. He is pushing out new growth, even yesterday he had new sprouts!

And I did not catch the Reg Green reference...???

He posted this,"You all realize that while red-green use duck tape for every thing..." That refers to "The Red Green Show" which was a low budget show from1990's. Dead pan humor, and silliness. It was set up as a DIY show, kinda like This Old House, but the guy was an idiot, surrounded by even dumber idiots. And yeah, he fixed most everything with Duct Tape. I think it my have been Canadian. Reminded my a little of the original Second City stuff.

Hey, I just found a short video of a sketch. Here ya go, enjoy!

https://youtu.be/HxYe26CIvuY