sapsucker damaging apple tree bark - Ask Extension
I am a home gardener with 4 apple trees. my Norland has had a lot of sapsucker damage all around trunk last year that i did not notice til no...
Knowledgebase
sapsucker damaging apple tree bark #634844
Asked May 13, 2020, 9:28 AM EDT
I am a home gardener with 4 apple trees. my Norland has had a lot of sapsucker damage all around trunk last year that i did not notice til now.
can i paint or seal the holes some way. many holes, I want to save it from drying out and dying
St. Louis County Minnesota
Expert Response
Hello. Happy to help.
We don't recommend plugging or painting these holes. The damage was done and whatever happened to the tree as a result before the tree sealed these wounds has happened. We do recommend preventing such damage by wrapping your tree with a tree wrap but this advice comes with a caution. The wrap should be removed and reapplied at least seasonally to allow for the tree's natural trunk expansion. Here is more information about the yellow-bellied sapsucker: https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/yellowbellied-sapsucker
I hope this information helps.
