deer damage - Ask Extension
This summer we planted a Korean dwarf lilac tree. This morning I saw that deer ate the bark about half way around last night (see photo). I sprayed ...
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deer damage #289321
Asked November 08, 2015, 12:13 PM EST
This summer we planted a Korean dwarf lilac tree. This morning I saw that deer ate the bark about half way around last night (see photo). I sprayed the wounds with pruning material right away and wrapped the trunk with the brown wrap and covered that with mesh fencing material. What are the chances that the tree will survive and be healthy?
Les Gagner
<personal data hidden>
Washington County Minnesota
Expert Response
Sorry about your tree. The rule of thumb is that if the tree has bark removed 50% around the tree, its chances for survival are small.
You can certainly try to save it. At least protect it from further deer damage with a barrier of some kind. I would not wrap the tree (nor would I have sprayed it with "pruning material"). Make sure it gets plenty of water before the ground freezes. But I think you should be thinking about a replacement - and a plan to protect it from deer.
Read here about dealing with deer:
http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/wildlife/deer-in-the-home-landscape/
Read here about treating wounds on trees:
http://puyallup.wsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/403/2015/03/wound-sealer.pdf
You can certainly try to save it. At least protect it from further deer damage with a barrier of some kind. I would not wrap the tree (nor would I have sprayed it with "pruning material"). Make sure it gets plenty of water before the ground freezes. But I think you should be thinking about a replacement - and a plan to protect it from deer.
Read here about dealing with deer:
http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/wildlife/deer-in-the-home-landscape/
Read here about treating wounds on trees:
http://puyallup.wsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/403/2015/03/wound-sealer.pdf
