Hi,
Any advice for saving this old apple tree that was damaged by (beavers, nutria, mountain beaver?) we have put fencing around the damage, but is there anything that should be painted on the bare wood? This is in western Washington
The beaver didn’t make it the whole way around the tree did it? The tree should be fine if it’s not fully girdled, I would not paint anything on because it can trap moisture. I would let the tree naturally recover from the damage. The best thing you can do is physically protect the tree from being chewed on again but since you already fenced it off, you are in good standing.
Luckily you got to it pretty fast, I worked at a place with a very busy beaver and he would fell trees at like 5 inches in diameter in a single night. They can do surprising amounts of damage in just one night.
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I had a beaver do some damage to four of my apple trees. Mostly taking off branches. Also doing some damage to the truck itself. I took some tree wound dressing to one side of the tree that was damaged by the beaver. THEN a deer came a did some antler rubbing as well. However, the tree actually survived all the animal damage. I am keeping that tree alive. It is a true survivor against all odds.
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Besides establishing or repairing their dam, they tend to go for the smaller trees or cut down mature ones to feed off the green growth up top. The one I watched daily for a good 2 years would work consistently for hours almost every night and you would see the next morning the carnage. It’s very cool to see they take such large chomps out of the wood when trying to take the tree down but their fine control is better than most expect. He would take small branches and eat a very thin layer off the wood and then add it to the nest/dam. When they aren’t eating trees we care about, they are one of the most interesting animals to observe.
I’d probably consider bridge grafting that. Looks like there is cambian below the damage that you can graft into.
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Thank you, I guess there’s nothing more I can do - the damage was only on the one side, the tree being up against wire fencing on the other side. I like your ‘name’, FruitAddicted! Recently we watched a video ‘The Fruit Hunters’ by Yung Chang with actor Bill Pullman. We need more entertainment of that sort!
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So frustrating! You and the tree are troopers! Maybe my apple tree will survive this, too. Thank you.
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