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Fruit trees

atmartin192K2Tp634hatmartin192K2Tp634h Posts: 7
in Problem solving
I've been growing fruit trees on my allotment for 2 yrs.  After Christmas I found them stripped of bark. I've circled them with chicken wire to try and stop it. Is it too late for my trees? Should I just replace them? 
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Posts

  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    Has the bark been stripped all the way round? If so then they won't survive. Any idea what has done the damage?
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    If it’s low down it could be rabbits or voles ... higher up could mean the culprit is a deer. If you show us some pics we may be able to identify the culprits to enable you to protect them or their replacements. 



    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Balgay.HillBalgay.Hill Posts: 1,089
    I read someplace that squirrels can also do this.
    Sunny Dundee
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Squirrels have stripped the trees in the forest opposite us. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • atmartin192K2Tp634hatmartin192K2Tp634h Posts: 7
    Thanks for your advice, I will try to resize the photos and post them, they are completely stripped and most of my apple tree has gone. We do have a hard but I've never seen squirrels 
  • atmartin192K2Tp634hatmartin192K2Tp634h Posts: 7

  • atmartin192K2Tp634hatmartin192K2Tp634h Posts: 7
    Hi, I've added 3 tree photos of varying degrees of damage,  the culprit hasn't touched my raspberry canes or new blackcurrant plants. Any advice to prevent more loss is welcome, thanks
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited January 2021
    Well I think those are ‘ex trees’ ... sorry ... they won’t recover from that. 

    The one that’s had the top removed makes me think it’s deer ... but the rest could be grey squirrels and/or rabbits. Any tracks or droppings around. Squirrel dreys in nearby trees? 

    Put some substantial protection around your raspberries and blackcurrants ... I think they’ll be next on the list.  

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • atmartin192K2Tp634hatmartin192K2Tp634h Posts: 7
    Hi thanks, I'll go out this morning and protect them, must be rabbits,  there's droppings all over the allotments this year. I'll rabbit proof before replanting.
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    When you put netting up remember you need to bury it into the ground too or they will just dig under it.
    AB Still learning

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