How to Repair Apple Trees Damaged by Mice
There are three different mice or vole that cause extensive damage to apple trees, according to the University of Illinois. Meadow vole, pine vole and prairie vole eat fruit and the bark of trees, which leaves open wounds on trees. These wounds contract a number of bacteria and fungal infections. The result is an unhealthy tree and reduction in apple production. It is essential to repair the damage and protect your apple trees from mice. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Brush off the dirt around your apple tree to inspect the roots that lay near the surface. Rodents such as mice eat these roots and cause the tree to girdle or prevent nutrients from the roots to get to the top of the tree. Look for small gnaw marks on the roots and around the trunk of the tree.
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Cut an oval around the jagged gnawed areas in the trunk with an knife. The oval should have an even depth and cut just around the wound.
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Mix up 1 tsp. of antibacterial soap in 1 gallon of water. Pour into a spray bottle.
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Spray the wound and dab with a towel. Because there may be harmful pathogens in the wound, you need to kill them to prevent them from growing into an infestation.
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Remove any mulch or grass that is near the tree. Pick up twigs, branches or fallen fruit, which can attract mice to the tree. Hand pull any weeds or grass.
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Tips & Warnings
Spread 2 inches of pea-shaped gravel around the tree to the dripline. The dripline is the area that is directly underneath the outermost branches. The gravel will protect the roots from the mice.
Trees that have been gnawed 100 percent around the trunk may be girdled, which reduces their rate of survival.
References
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