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Oak tree sapling just got girdled. Can I save it? #748951

Asked May 09, 2021, 7:58 PM EDT

4-yr old, 5-foot tall oak sapling grown from an acorn has suffered deer damage. Trunk diameter is 3/4". About 6" vertical has been removed all around the trunk (photo) and bare wood exposed. Any chance I can save this sapling? It was a gift.

Columbia County Oregon

Expert Response

Darryl: This is a follow-up to your earlier direct email. It looks pretty tough. Grafting is rarely done on oaks and more complex techniques have never, to my searching, been done. Some people have had some luck with traditional grafts to start an entirely new plant but references are  very slim. See the one pdf below.   

Sometimes the “girdle” hasn’t been deep enough to   actually destroyed the cambium and the tree might recover. This is more common on older trees than this one. Wrapping the exposed bark with something reflective but with air flow might help. Again, on this tree, I wouldn’t count on it to recover. Chip


An Ask Extension Expert Replied May 10, 2021, 4:01 PM EDT

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