RABBIT DAMAGE

This is a picture of the damage found at the end of February on one of our most prolifically cropping trees….Sunset. We think a single rabbit would have caused the wound…..and this girdling is most likely to kill the tree. Because the outer bark and cambium layer have been damaged so badly, water and nutrients can not progress up the tree.
RHS Advisory suggests that we do nothing and see what happens……but meanwhile we could wrap some damp moss around the area, securing it under plastic to try to give a warmer damp environment to encourage regrowth if that is possible.

Also we must be extra vigilant with ensuring the chicken wire protection around every tree remains securely in place……we still have 29 other trees to look after!