HELP - Tree in danger!!

Brendankearns · Rank attained: Rowan Tree Joined: 01 Feb 2013 Posts: 133

Crimson King tree 4 year old has been attacked by a stag/deer. All bark has been stripped on the trunk. Still plenty of leaves and branches but concerned that without any bark the tree will die - what can I do to prevent it dying?

Any help would be appreciate.
Brendan

tagwex · Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 7:26 pm Post subject:

If the bark has been eaten all the way (ringed) around the trunk you might as well chop it down now.

Greengage · Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 8:11 pm Post subject:

Agree with tagwex

medieval knievel · Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 8:37 pm Post subject:

coppice it?

tippben · Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 10:00 pm Post subject:

Aye, If it has been ring barked, your best bet is to make a clean cut into undamaged bark, and leave a stump at that height. Unless it is really big, I'd use a pruning saw (felco/silky fox/ something from Woodies) for the finishing cut. The rest of the tree you could cut down any old way. It will probably grow back as a coppice stool, as Acer platanoides cultivars are very tenacious, but it could also die.

Either way, protect the stump physically, with a cage made of the dead branches, to protect the new shoots. Might be time to invest in some tree shelters to protect any other young trees you might have. If it survives the winter, fine. If it can't put on enough growth to sustain it, you'll have to give up and remove it.

Can you post photos of the damage, so we can try to identify the culprit?