Scully Posted September 28, 2023 Report Share Posted September 28, 2023 Right, I’ve googled this but wondered if anyone had real experience of repairing/saving a ring barked tree. The tree in question is a two year old sapling of a rare ( as yet unidentified ) apple tree. OH’s mother contracted some blokes in to clear the paddock ( despite us saying we can do it for free! ) and one of them has strimmed my apple tree! The damage is just on one side of the inch thick base, so not completely ringed right round, and I’ve heard they can survive if the ring isn’t complete. Any advice would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted September 28, 2023 Report Share Posted September 28, 2023 I've seen several Beech trees damaged by squirrels that are still growing, your tree will be more susceptible to disease though till it hardens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted September 28, 2023 Report Share Posted September 28, 2023 It should survive if the damage is only as you say, the bark will eventually close the gap/wound, you can paint it with pruning paste but there as been a rethink on using such sealers on wounds, some experts say it can inhibit the trees nature healing process, I use it when pruning my fruit trees and it seems to do the job. There is the slight chance with open wounds of the tree getting canker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweet11-87 Posted September 28, 2023 Report Share Posted September 28, 2023 (edited) if its not completley all the way round then its not technically girdled chances of survival/ effects depend on level of cambium stripped. if its 50/50 thats plenty enough for it to survive and with the tree now about to enter its dormant stage id just leave it and put some kind of guard around it until its big enough that it wont get bothered you can graft bark from other parts of the tree onto the effected area and then wrap it in cling film for the winter to keep disease out but chances of that working are probably not worth the effort if its that centimental to you wait until january and cut a half dozen foot long ends off and put them in damp sawdust until march, if the callous has formed the stick is still alive, bang them in some peat soil in pots for a year then bang them into the garden the following march. out of 6 youll probably get 1 or 2 to root. also a free app caled picturethis will identify the type of apple tree it is with a photo. and give you a tonne of info on what its crack is. Edited September 28, 2023 by Sweet11-87 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted September 28, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2023 Thanks all; that’s grand! Very much appreciated. I’ll have a gander at the app, but some of the best ‘apple’ brains in the country have been baffled by its identity. It was growing in the garden of a house I bought 26 years ago, and the kids and me would harvest the cookers it produced each year. The mother of a mate ( on whose land we have a rough shoot ) and I would press the apples each year, along with many other types for cider and cider vinegar. She is known locally as ‘the apple lady’, and is a recognised authority nationally regards apples. She couldn’t identify them so put it out to her contacts, none of whom have been able to identify it. 🤷♂️ Anyhow, when I moved she took some grafts and planted some in her orchard, and grafted two for me. I’d hate to see even one of them die. Thanks again. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Windswept Posted September 28, 2023 Report Share Posted September 28, 2023 If it has any material that would be pruned this winter you could take cuttings or even try grafting some more. I've had some heavily damaged apple trees survive deer damage removing about half the bark so yours could be fine. It might be worth protecting the base of this one and the other one with chicken wire. As for variety, the original tree could have been a self sown one so one of a kind. I've got a couple of trees here I've grafted from unknown trees that have produced good apples in previous homes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted September 28, 2023 Report Share Posted September 28, 2023 (edited) as others have said..im sure it will be fine.............the pressure and the sap is starting to fall now...might have been different if the sap was rising...........might be an idea to wrap something around it ..over the winter Edited September 28, 2023 by ditchman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbob Posted September 28, 2023 Report Share Posted September 28, 2023 As above its not been totally ringed so should be fine how many older trees do you see with damage ?. If you want you could remove the turf round it ? it will help the tree with less competition from grass etc and then nobody would need to strim right up to it again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted September 28, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2023 Most helpful folks; Thankyou again. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strimmer_13 Posted September 28, 2023 Report Share Posted September 28, 2023 After working for the council and having seen -every- tree in Gillingham on council land ringbarked, I'd say it's fine. One of those guys I worked with fully ringed about 10no 6ft apple trees 3 years ago and this year I was picking them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jall25 Posted September 28, 2023 Report Share Posted September 28, 2023 It amazing how little they need to survive - if you look at a laid hedge it can be held on with a tiny bit - but thrives Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man Posted September 29, 2023 Report Share Posted September 29, 2023 (edited) As a back up get someone to bridge a graft over the area? Edited September 29, 2023 by old man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted October 2, 2023 Report Share Posted October 2, 2023 Grandad always used Arbrex on damaged fruit trees. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bayer-Garden-Arbrex-Seal-Heal/dp/B000TAT6JW/ref=pd_lpo_sccl_2/261-0466611-5527020?pd_rd_w=vnW3o&content-id=amzn1.sym.6ed16426-b38e-4362-a80a-afb4d687a1d2&pf_rd_p=6ed16426-b38e-4362-a80a-afb4d687a1d2&pf_rd_r=HCZQDXXAA0FRN9RK7SN9&pd_rd_wg=Ghho7&pd_rd_r=7bf334df-b227-40d5-88ca-0627b9847955&pd_rd_i=B000TAT6JW&psc=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted October 2, 2023 Report Share Posted October 2, 2023 1 hour ago, loriusgarrulus said: Grandad always used Arbrex on damaged fruit trees. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bayer-Garden-Arbrex-Seal-Heal/dp/B000TAT6JW/ref=pd_lpo_sccl_2/261-0466611-5527020?pd_rd_w=vnW3o&content-id=amzn1.sym.6ed16426-b38e-4362-a80a-afb4d687a1d2&pf_rd_p=6ed16426-b38e-4362-a80a-afb4d687a1d2&pf_rd_r=HCZQDXXAA0FRN9RK7SN9&pd_rd_wg=Ghho7&pd_rd_r=7bf334df-b227-40d5-88ca-0627b9847955&pd_rd_i=B000TAT6JW&psc=1 I still do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted October 2, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2023 Thanks all. Arbrex sounds just the job. Thankyou. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted October 2, 2023 Report Share Posted October 2, 2023 5 hours ago, loriusgarrulus said: Grandad always used Arbrex on damaged fruit trees. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bayer-Garden-Arbrex-Seal-Heal/dp/B000TAT6JW/ref=pd_lpo_sccl_2/261-0466611-5527020?pd_rd_w=vnW3o&content-id=amzn1.sym.6ed16426-b38e-4362-a80a-afb4d687a1d2&pf_rd_p=6ed16426-b38e-4362-a80a-afb4d687a1d2&pf_rd_r=HCZQDXXAA0FRN9RK7SN9&pd_rd_wg=Ghho7&pd_rd_r=7bf334df-b227-40d5-88ca-0627b9847955&pd_rd_i=B000TAT6JW&psc=1 christ ..that is a word i havnt heard for a long time............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man Posted October 6, 2023 Report Share Posted October 6, 2023 On 02/10/2023 at 09:51, Scully said: Thanks all. Arbrex sounds just the job. Thankyou. 👍 Used to be used professionally, not sure now as linked to locking infection in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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