Ginko girdle - Ask Extension
Hello, My question is regarding a Ginko tree of ours that downey woodpeckers decided they liked over the winter. They have pecked substantial parts of...
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Ginko girdle #861546
Asked March 15, 2024, 10:36 AM EDT
Hello, My question is regarding a Ginko tree of ours that downey woodpeckers decided they liked over the winter. They have pecked substantial parts of bark off the trunk. About 3/4's around the trunk. This is a young tree that is only about 10 feet tall and about 4 inches around the trunk. I have wrapped the pecked parts in tree wrap but the birds have moved to other areas of the tree and done additional damage. My question is will this damage the tree so much that it will not survive? or be stunted? Should we consider taking it out and replacing it? So far, it is still showing leaf buds all the way to the top. Thanks for any help you might offer. Yours, Jeff Reed
Dakota County Minnesota
Expert Response
The woodpecker action may be a symptom of insect infestation. The birds can smell or hear the insects and go after them for food. Or they could be marking their territory.
https://extension.psu.edu/do-woodpeckers-damage-your-trees
The circulatory system for all trees is right under the outer bark. If this is cut through all the way around a tree, it will die above that point. If not, it may survive on one side but not the other. Try removing a small area of bark near a hole and see if there are any insect channels left. If so, you have any insect infestation and need to treat or remove the tree. Since your damage is 3/4s of the way around, you may have lost the tree. But wait and see if it will leaf out and continue, before removing it. See these web pages also.
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/natural-resources/preventing-woodpecker-damage-6-516/
https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/nongame/woodpecker-control-information.pdf
https://extension.psu.edu/do-woodpeckers-damage-your-trees
The circulatory system for all trees is right under the outer bark. If this is cut through all the way around a tree, it will die above that point. If not, it may survive on one side but not the other. Try removing a small area of bark near a hole and see if there are any insect channels left. If so, you have any insect infestation and need to treat or remove the tree. Since your damage is 3/4s of the way around, you may have lost the tree. But wait and see if it will leaf out and continue, before removing it. See these web pages also.
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/natural-resources/preventing-woodpecker-damage-6-516/
https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/nongame/woodpecker-control-information.pdf
Thank you Linda, I will check under bark for insects and then make a decision on moving forward. Hate to remove the young tree after it started so well but will do what needs to be done. JR
