Each gardener who has his own plot is proud of the grown crop, flowering plants and, of course, fruit trees. However, the latter are very often attacked by rodents. Especially mice are attracted by the bark of apple trees and pears. Sometimes preventive measures are unsuccessful. How to save an apple tree damaged by mice, we will consider in this article.
What happens to the tree?
The bark is the main transport route along which beneficial nutrients and water move. If at least part of the trunk remains intact, then the outcome may be successful, since the tree receives all the substances from the earth to the crown through the intact side. But even in this case, the apple tree becomes weak, more susceptible to diseases and pests, flowering and fruiting will be sluggish.
If the mice damage the bark of the apple tree in the circle of the trunk, then the tree most likely dies, because access to nutrients becomes impossible. In this case, you need to cut or uproot the tree.
Treatment of apple trees damaged by mice
The most important thing is the timely treatment of damaged apple trees. Trees are most often affected by mice in spring, as the activity of rodents increases from February to March.
Small wounds on a tree can be treated with garden varieties or prepare a special healing mixture. It consists of clay and mullein, which are mixed in equal proportions and applied to the trunks in an even layer. After that, they are wrapped with cloth or gauze, covered with polyethylene from the rains. It turns out a kind of medical dressing, but it works only with small and medium injuries.
How to save an apple tree damaged by mice pretty much? If the area of damage to the bark is large or the mice gnawed it in a circle, you will have to make efforts to save the tree. As soon as damage became noticeable, they were wrapped with a film, and covered with roofing material on top. It is especially important to make such a bandage as quickly as possible in winter so that the tree does not freeze through. And with the onset of spring, you can get vaccinated with a bridge.
How to vaccinate with a bridge?
How to save an apple tree damaged by mice in a circle, and even in frost? It will take a special vaccination. To begin with, the damaged bark is cut off and cleaned until healthy wood appears. Further treated with preparations containing copper or manganese.
After this, several annual cuttings of any apple or pear variety are cut, absolutely any variety, even wild ones, will do. Cuttings should be cut so that they are 3-4 centimeters larger than the width of the damage. On two sides, the cuttings make oblique sections. An important condition is a good tool sharpening!
Further, in the upper and lower parts of the cortex, between which there is damage, make a T-shaped incision. The bark gently bends and ready cuttings are inserted under it. Then this place is covered with var, wrapped with ribbons or a special film after vaccination. The latter itself disappears with time under the influence of ultraviolet radiation.
Such cuttings-bridges are located on the entire surface of the damage at a distance of 6 centimeters from each other. Cover with burlap and leave until the end of summer. On such peculiar bridges, nutrition from the roots goes to the shoots and leaves.
When vaccinated correctly, the damaged area is covered with fresh bark.
Prevention - First and foremost
Since prevention is always easier than cure, first consider preventative measures. The most economical and common option is to protect the trunk of the apple tree with spruce branches. They are tied around a tree, with the needles looking down. The branches are positioned so that the largest number of needles is at the bottom of the trunk. This makes the lower cortex inaccessible to rodents.
Another available method is tying the trunk with roofing material. However, one should pay attention to the next moment. The roofing material has a black color, which means it attracts the sun's rays, the surface heats up and burns can appear on the tree. In order to prevent this from happening, in front of the roofing material layer, the trunk is tied with a dense fabric or burlap.
Another method of protection is the mulching of the bosom space with sawdust soaked in creolin.
In addition, special nets and baits for exterminating mice are sold in stores . Around the garden should be installed a dull fence, and in winter, trample the snow around the apple trees to destroy the mouse passages.
In custody
So, even a partial loss of bark is a disaster for the tree, because, having lost its "skin", the apple tree becomes very vulnerable and can die from any disease or lack of nutrition. The best way to save an apple tree damaged by mice is by grafting with a bridge.
However, it is best to give due attention to preventive measures, in this case the tree will not become easy prey for mice and other rodents.