Knowledgebase
rabbits eating apple tree bark #892368
Asked February 06, 2025, 12:20 PM EST
Grand Traverse County Michigan
Expert Response
If you could attach pictures of the damage- two or three- to show all the way around the trunk? This will help our expert assess the damage.
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Here is more information on damaged trunks and a possible option— bridge grafting.
Depending on what percent of the bark is removed in a circle around the trunk determines if the tree can survive or not. Here is an article that discusses that situation
https://aces.nmsu.edu/ces/yard/2007/090807.html
Bridge grafting is a technique for saving a tree that sometimes works. Here is information on bridge grafting. I recommend having a certified arborist out to assess the tree overall and do the grafting for you, if it is a viable option. The last link is to the ISA, where you can search for certified arborists by zip code-
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/bridge_grafting_as_a_life_saving_procedure_for_trees
www.treesaregood.org
