farm hunter

Dan O. or other apple experts -

- maybe you can help answer my question. You may know I planted a bunch of apple trees 2 years ago - this year I filled a few "open spots" and I never went back and fenced them in. Needless to say - one of mynewApples (Wolf river - 6 ft high - 3/4"OD at belt) was rubbed all the way around at about 3 ft up - for 8-10".

Is there any saving it? Can I top it off at 2-1/2ft and expect regrowth? Should I even try?

Thanks FH

Dan O.

F.H. if you (or I) had the skill you could bridge graft it. I've had young trees rubbed off for most of the trunk but as long as it isn't girdled all the way around you can keep the bare part coated with a wound dressing and it will grow back. If it's all the way around you have to wait and see if there are any dormant buds above the ground level graft that will sprout next spring. The sap pressure has the ability to push growth from dormant buds and unfortunately root suckers that you'll have to keep pruned off. On some plants you can induce new growth by imbedding toothpicks soaked in growth hormone through the tree (and living bark) but I don't know if it would work with apples. As a last resort, do a bit of reading, find a Wolf River apple tree (or any other variety that you have available)and top graft or bud the trunk (below the scrape) next spring. It doesn't hurt to try as you have a good root stock to work with.

Dan O.

jhalfhill

they make wound dressings for trees???[&:]

Dan O.

jhalfhill; here's an example. I prefer the spray can type. It protects the open wood from decay until the new growth covers it.

http://www.gemplers.com/a/shop/product.asp?T1=152248

Dan O.