Knowledgebase

Deer damage to young fruit trees #890977

Asked December 22, 2024, 3:01 PM EST

We have planted over a dozen different fruit and nut trees over the years. We have protected them from deer and other animals when they are very small with wire cages. We thought some of them could successfully exist without the cages so we removed the cages. Well, it seems that we have suffered some damage we didn't expect. On a couple of our trees, we think that the deer used them to scrape the velvet off of their antlers and have really damaged the small trunks and many branches. Please see the pictures for one example. We hope that the tree will survive but we wanted to know if there was anything we could do to help the tree recover from the damage. We are pretty sure that there is no hope of the bark "healing" and growing back -- we assume the bark will be damaged and scarred for the rest of the tree's life. We plan on waiting to see what happens in the spring to see if the trees recover and continue to live. However we are anticipating that some might not. We would appreciate any info and/or suggestions that you can give. Thank you.

Washtenaw County Michigan

Expert Response

Yes, that is quite extensive damage. I would recommend carefully trimming off scraggly parts that have been torn loose, leaving a cleaner edge, and pruning off any branches you don't want to try to salvage. Those injuries are entry points for insects and disease, but thankfully neither is a problem this time of year. You will need to monitor for both beginning in the spring. The trees will attempt to compartmentalize the injury sites, but that process will take years to complete and the wood will always be weaker at those sites. Where possible, try to select new branches to replace damaged scaffold branches. 

Unless the bark and cambium layer underneath the bark has been removed all the way around the trunk, recovery is possible. The trees may shed branches (i.e., the branches may die) if they cannot get enough water and nutrients to support them. Prune off any dead branches as you notice them. If these are irrigated, be aware that injured trees may not be able to take up as much water. The soil needs to be moist, but it should not remain wet for extended periods or the roots may be damaged.

Ultimately you will need to decide which trees to keep and which to replace. Seeing how they look in the spring will provide some helpful information. In more severe cases, a new tree will grow faster and may surpass the size of the injured tree. In every case, persistent injury sites will leave the tree more vulnerable to pests and diseases in the future. 

I've tried to cover some of the basics. Feel free to ask follow-up questions, and I wish you all the best with your trees as they recover!


Thank you for contacting Ask Extension! Replied December 23, 2024, 11:59 AM EST
Thank you!

Glen Tallarek


From: ask=<personal data hidden> on behalf of Ask Extension
Sent: Monday, December 23, 2024 11:59 AM
To: glentall
Subject: Re: Deer damage to young fruit trees (#0160893)
 
The Question Asker Replied December 24, 2024, 12:18 AM EST

Loading ...