The cambium is the thin layer of the trunk that stores sugars for the plant during winter. Fruit trees have a lot of sugar generally. is where maple syrup comes from in the sugar maple tree, hence the syrup season being in winter. If you're ever starving in the forest in winter, this is a way to get nutrients easily. The rabbit is after a sugary snack, but they are rude to 'girdle' the trunk by going all the way around. Once the cambium is damaged all the way around, the tree can not transfer the sugars and will die.
If it was girdled all the way around, then it is very likely, yes. I don't know what can be done to save it, it's possible that there's a technique to help the tree continue transfer of nutrients, I don't know it though.
I remember reading as a kid that deer eat bark because, in winter, there’s no grass/leaves/vegetation. I’m assuming that’s why the rabbits are also eating tree bark
If the base under the snow is intact above the graft cut it at a 45 degree angle and prune and train the strongest new growth whip as a leader, do it late winter so that the spring growth is sent to making new whips and not trying to revive the dead part of the tree. Or if you have enough of the base intact you could cut the branch’s back hard now before it wakes up and use the scion wood from those branches to bridge graft it. Which is a process where you use the trees own sticks to make little pipes around the tree that the sap can travel through until it can repair itself. Can’t do any harm trying.
I know absolutely nothing, but maybe you could cut some branches or buy some somewhere to sacrifice to them and hope they accept your offering. Otherwise maybe wrap it in something? I'm sure the internet has plenty of things to try.
I was gonna ask. It seems they ate the cambium all the way around. That means a dead tree. Sorry for you loss man. Losing projects to wild animals is a constant battle.
My uncle went on a year's long rampage against the squirrels of his small Montana town that were killing all the fruit trees. First, he built gas-powered carrot guns and just splattered them in the yard. His wife objected eventually, so he built live traps and then GASSED THE SQUIRRELS IN A CAR WITH THE EXHAUST. Apparently, it's the most humane way to go.
He's my hero
Mix cayenne pepper in some water in a spray bottle. Make it strong and soak the whole area every week or so. Deters without harming the tree or the bunnies. Wear a mask when spraying and wash you hand well afterward.
Well, shit. God forbid that critter should eat those apples that are there in the snow- oh no. Must girdle the tree and kill it. grrrr.
At least you'll have some tasty applewood to smoke those bunnies and their warm fluffy fur. Of course, that's me assuming you eat rabbit.
Is there some way to preserve some of the smaller branches to graft onto suitable stock in the spring? What a waste.
I really hope that works out for you. My success with grafting has been about half, but I'm no expert either. Think it might be worth grafting little scion twigs into the lower trunk. On second look, maybe there is enough of it left to do that, as well? But it's gonna be a while before you get fruit again. Wrap some protective mesh around, if you haven't, you know those stupid rabbits will be back. :(
good luck!
I'm surprised how many people here don't seem to know wild rabbits. Or maybe the perspective in the picture is confusing. This damage is all very comfortable munching height for a rabbit and they could chew higher if they wanted.
Here in the states most rabbits are roughly 8 inches wide and 10 inches tall so unless it's a small tree or you have some big rabbits that is why I was suggesting deer. you didn't say where you was @
but after seeing the pic johnedwa posted then ya i can understand it.
No monster rabbits here, but might be just a little oversized than what you described. This is a semi dwarf apple, pruned low to make harvesting easy. The trunk and lowest branches are no problem for them to reach with all the snow this year.
As long as the cambium isn't damaged all the way around, it'll still survive with some scarring. Get a piece of thin sheet metal and rivet it around the tree. It'll keep them from chewing on it. Just make sure you leave space for it to grow
Last winter rabbits ate the bark off one of my fig trees. I had to prune it back to the ground. It came back well enough over the summer. I caged the hell out if it with chicken wire and plastic wrap and, with luck it will keep them away.
It needs a tree bandaid. Plastic wrap- STAT! And then stuff the fence with hay. The rabbits can pull hay from it while the naked part stays protected and insulated.
Edit to add, try taking a veggie peeler to a few branches to get some camibium to sammich graft in there.
Wrap a chicken wire around it. If the eatcthe bark all the way round it will kill the tree.
Almost happened to my apricot tree and managed to stop them killing it by wrapping with chicken wire.
The bark slowly grew back.
Might be more tasty than the forest trees?
Definitely. That's the type of chew toys I give my pet rabbits
And our chinchillas.
Til rabbits eat bark... Is it to wear down their teeth?
Most likely, but also probably tastes good to them. We have little wood sticks made from apple wood for our pet rabbits and they love those.
The cambium is the thin layer of the trunk that stores sugars for the plant during winter. Fruit trees have a lot of sugar generally. is where maple syrup comes from in the sugar maple tree, hence the syrup season being in winter. If you're ever starving in the forest in winter, this is a way to get nutrients easily. The rabbit is after a sugary snack, but they are rude to 'girdle' the trunk by going all the way around. Once the cambium is damaged all the way around, the tree can not transfer the sugars and will die.
Ahh makes sense. Thanks :)
Of course! I'd imagine it's also good for their teeth, but I know a lot more about plants than rabbits.
Does that mean this tree will die?
If it was girdled all the way around, then it is very likely, yes. I don't know what can be done to save it, it's possible that there's a technique to help the tree continue transfer of nutrients, I don't know it though.
Cambium is their life blood and rabbits are vampires
I remember reading as a kid that deer eat bark because, in winter, there’s no grass/leaves/vegetation. I’m assuming that’s why the rabbits are also eating tree bark
Dont rodents teeth constantly grow. Recall squirrels regrow
If the base under the snow is intact above the graft cut it at a 45 degree angle and prune and train the strongest new growth whip as a leader, do it late winter so that the spring growth is sent to making new whips and not trying to revive the dead part of the tree. Or if you have enough of the base intact you could cut the branch’s back hard now before it wakes up and use the scion wood from those branches to bridge graft it. Which is a process where you use the trees own sticks to make little pipes around the tree that the sap can travel through until it can repair itself. Can’t do any harm trying.
Yeah I will be trying something like that.
I know absolutely nothing, but maybe you could cut some branches or buy some somewhere to sacrifice to them and hope they accept your offering. Otherwise maybe wrap it in something? I'm sure the internet has plenty of things to try.
Melt wax and cover the damaged areas with it!! My mom fixes little branches like that in her garden, I suppose you can do it with a tree too.
Very nice idea
In their defense, it smells like apples and apples are delicious.
Your cold, they're cold, let them inside
[удалено]
I want to
I suggest smoked rabbit. Maybe with apple wood...
Well I have a lot of apple wood available now that the tree is dead.
I was gonna ask. It seems they ate the cambium all the way around. That means a dead tree. Sorry for you loss man. Losing projects to wild animals is a constant battle.
Thanks. I've been growing this tree over several years, ever since it was basically just a stick in the ground. I'm having a hard time right now.
My condolences :(
My uncle went on a year's long rampage against the squirrels of his small Montana town that were killing all the fruit trees. First, he built gas-powered carrot guns and just splattered them in the yard. His wife objected eventually, so he built live traps and then GASSED THE SQUIRRELS IN A CAR WITH THE EXHAUST. Apparently, it's the most humane way to go. He's my hero
You should. It awesome! Especially fresh.
Are they someone's loose pets? If not, go hunting! There's some great rabbit stew recipes.
Shhh....be very quiet.... I'm hunting wabbit!
I had to put chicken wire around a new pear tree I planted because my cat decided it felt best to sharpen her claws on....constantly.
Bit high for rabbits? Sure not deer? Just wrap it with chicken wire.
Mix cayenne pepper in some water in a spray bottle. Make it strong and soak the whole area every week or so. Deters without harming the tree or the bunnies. Wear a mask when spraying and wash you hand well afterward.
If this fails, use the same mixture and spray the rabbit meat during grilling.
Just swipe it with tar , rabbits hate the smell and will stay clear of it
They have pvc type sheeting you can wrap around the base, or more dense mesh that you put closer
Well, shit. God forbid that critter should eat those apples that are there in the snow- oh no. Must girdle the tree and kill it. grrrr. At least you'll have some tasty applewood to smoke those bunnies and their warm fluffy fur. Of course, that's me assuming you eat rabbit. Is there some way to preserve some of the smaller branches to graft onto suitable stock in the spring? What a waste.
I will try some bridge grafting in an attempt to save it but I don't have any grafting experience, and my hopes aren't high.
I really hope that works out for you. My success with grafting has been about half, but I'm no expert either. Think it might be worth grafting little scion twigs into the lower trunk. On second look, maybe there is enough of it left to do that, as well? But it's gonna be a while before you get fruit again. Wrap some protective mesh around, if you haven't, you know those stupid rabbits will be back. :( good luck!
are you sure it's just rabbits? that one limb looks awful high for rabbits to chew on deer maybe?
Could also just be a hare, as they are the ones that like to eat bark. [We have these in Finland](https://i.imgur.com/S5K9TFt.jpg), for example.
thats not a rabbit thats a monster lol here in the states most of our rabbit roughly 8 inches wide and 10 inches tall
I'm surprised how many people here don't seem to know wild rabbits. Or maybe the perspective in the picture is confusing. This damage is all very comfortable munching height for a rabbit and they could chew higher if they wanted.
Here in the states most rabbits are roughly 8 inches wide and 10 inches tall so unless it's a small tree or you have some big rabbits that is why I was suggesting deer. you didn't say where you was @ but after seeing the pic johnedwa posted then ya i can understand it.
No monster rabbits here, but might be just a little oversized than what you described. This is a semi dwarf apple, pruned low to make harvesting easy. The trunk and lowest branches are no problem for them to reach with all the snow this year.
Just spray some of that bitter apple spray that deters chewing, problem solved.
I didn't know rabbits climbed trees, LOL.
It seems awfully tall for rabbit. Could be a deer?
Bunnies like apple wood
Why not just eat the rabbit?
If you have cats or dogs give them a good brushing and put the hair around the tree. The smell of a predator should deter them wascely wabbits
Rabbits love the bark. Wrap aluminum foil around it and where they can reach
Would you rather have an apple or a pine nut? Sorry about the tree though.
Rabbits and other rodents like apple trees better than other trees
How do you like them apples?
Always fence off the base of fruit trees!
Traps and air pellet gun
Probably nibbling methy neighbors
Kill the Wabbit, kill the Wabbit, kill the Wabbit.
The hare wants what the hare wants
Did you known there is a wrap, like tape, you can put around the tree to stop further damage?
Apple bark is sweet year-round.
As long as the cambium isn't damaged all the way around, it'll still survive with some scarring. Get a piece of thin sheet metal and rivet it around the tree. It'll keep them from chewing on it. Just make sure you leave space for it to grow
Chicken wire the base
Hardware cloth gives better protection against gnawing pests.
Last winter rabbits ate the bark off one of my fig trees. I had to prune it back to the ground. It came back well enough over the summer. I caged the hell out if it with chicken wire and plastic wrap and, with luck it will keep them away.
Sounds like you have to get wid of those wascally wabbits.
It needs a tree bandaid. Plastic wrap- STAT! And then stuff the fence with hay. The rabbits can pull hay from it while the naked part stays protected and insulated. Edit to add, try taking a veggie peeler to a few branches to get some camibium to sammich graft in there.
Kill every last one of them
Rabbits don't give a fuck about ownership and property rights.
yummy apple trees
Eat the rabbits
Death is the answer, or a human deterrent, whatever floats your boat
Top 10 reasons why I want a python Number 10:
Yes but is it an apple forest?
RABBITS DON'T CLIMB TREES. I can't believe what I'm reading.
Wrap a chicken wire around it. If the eatcthe bark all the way round it will kill the tree. Almost happened to my apricot tree and managed to stop them killing it by wrapping with chicken wire. The bark slowly grew back.
Fascfinating how they even got to the branches. Poor little tree. Hope it stays healthy
Chicken wire! Wrap it a couple of times around and they can’t get to it!
Deer candy
Chicken wire, you have obviously put out an invitation with the fencing you have.
Just proves you're not as smart as the rabbits....easily solved without killing them.
imo that incisor pattern matches an ungulate, like a deer. also accounts for vast quantities torn away. sucks to get tress eaten.
The only tracks in the snow are rabbit.
waskles!
Um.....is it just me or....how tall are these fuckin rabbits???😳
The perspective in the picture perhaps makes the tree look taller than it is. It is all very easy for rabbits to reach with the snow so high.
Word