How to Take Care of a Girdled Tree

A tree that is girdled may be saved with a bridge graft.

If a tree has been girdled, the bark around the trunk has been cut in half. The tree's bark contains the vascular system for the tree. Girdling the bark an lead to immediate death unless you take steps to heal the vascular system. The most reliable means to heal the tree's vascular system is to connect the tree bark across the girdled spot with a bridge graft. Bridge grafting may be done in late winter before the tree slips out of dormancy.

Things You'll Need

• Grafting knife
• Screwdriver
• Hammer
• Tacks

Instructions

1. Cut back the damaged bark on a girdled tree so that it is within 1 inch of healthy bark. Make the edges clean and smooth. Scrape down the bark until healthy, live bark is exposed around the edges.

2. Loosen the bark at the top and bottom of the girdled spot on the tree with a screwdriver. In late winter the bark will slip away easily from the tree's trunk. Make a slit into the bark at the top and bottom of the tree that is 2 inches long. For thicker bark, remove a rectangle that is 2 inches long.

3. Cut a young branch with a grafting knife that is 4 inches longer than the girdle to serve as your scion. Taper the 2 inches on either end of the scion so that it will slip under the tree's bark.

4. Lift the bark along your cut with a screwdriver and slip the scion under the bark. Or place the scion into the rectangular-shaped cut.

5. Nail the scion to the tree. Nail the bark flaps to the scion. Do not crush the bark when you tack it in place.

References

• University of Minnesota: Methods of Grafting
• University of Minnesota: What Trees Can Be Grafted?
• North Carolina State University: Grafting

Resources

• Iowa State University: Rabbit Damage to Trees and Shrubs