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Young Silver Birch bark damage
steven.bassindale
Posts: 4
I planted a young silver birch tree about 12 months ago and noticed recently that a section of the bark near the base had been damaged or had disease as it appeared dead and came away very easily. Many of the leaves have also turned dry and brown in colour and aren't falling off which I presume is related as it's a bit early for autumn yet? is the tree dying or is there something I can do to repair?
Many thanks in advance for any advice
Steven
0
Posts
It should have read ' are falling off '
Hi steven. That is quite serious damage that has been done. The growth area (the cambium layer) under the bark has gone so that will lead to death of tissue on that side of the tree and it may even result in the death of the whole tree. The only thing you can do is to leave the tree until next Spring and watch to see what happens. Do you have any rabbits near you as that sort of bark damage is the sort of thing they can do?
The missing layer is at least half way round the tree, that's serious. This is likely to have been physical damage, rabbit as Ladybird suggests or another offender is the strimmer or other garden tool. I feel there's little hope for the survival of this tree and no hope at all of it ever making a decent specimen.
Sorry
In the sticks near Peterborough
Thanks for your advice. I spoke with nursery staff where I bought the tree and they agree that I should wait and see if it comes back next spring. I prefer that option to give it a chance.
Thanks for your advice. I will give it a chance until next year and see what happens. Fingers crossed!
?
Looks like strimmer damage to me but I think the tree will survive. Silver birches are pretty tough. I would place a tree guard around the trunk though.