This is my SECOND tree that been getting this type of trunk damage to it. No way this was done by mother nature (animals, wind, etc). Seems intentional. Noticed this on my newly planted tree today. What's going on? Just a month or so ago, similar damage was done to my Bloodgood maple. This damaged looks fresh? This happened a month ago. Hopefully the tree survives. Almost half of the trunk "caldium" or whatchumacallit was trimmed off.
@vbx , good morning, I'm not so sure it's not animal related tbh. The first thing you need to do immediatly is to protect around both trees with chicken wire, to stop any further attacks. If the bark , cambium loss completely girdles the tree, it is lost. It looks to me as though the damage is the same height on both trees, so if not mechanical damage then it's the same animal returning at night. I have used cameras in the past where certain large animals have been suspected in an area, ( yes even in England) and once an animal is happy in a particular location it returns regularly. So IMO protect around your two trees from the ground to just above the area of damage with a sturdy wire mesh. I genuinely believe that this will solve your problem. You may have to consider other trees with this process also. But the price of chicken wire is a lot cheaper than replacing lovely maples. Hope this is of some help. Do update the forum with any news on how you get on. D
Hi..Frustrating..I had a very similar issue a month or so ago..it turned out to be a wood pigeon..amazing how much damage a small bird can do.
I'll purchase some tree guard from a local store. I've checked my cameras but way too many footage to go over. I do see Crows checkout out the trees. Could be crows? But the cut seem too clean. Not "pecked" but stripped off. Maybe it's the freaking crows. Hopefully the tree guard will protect the bark from future attacks.
Hi vbx, good idea, it maybe vermin of some kind, mouse, rat,squirrel, etc etc etc. What animals are prevalent in your area? Chipmunks maybe your problem. So protection is necessary. Good luck D
My suspicion for the damage would be squirrels - they like to strip maple bark in the spring & early summer to lick up the sweet sap (just like humans and maple syrup!).
I get similar damage from voles, but mostly during winter months, and with smaller teeth marks. It looks like something with bigger teeth did this, a rabbit or a squirrel probably. Spraying with a repellent like deer spray should help. I make my own spray by blending garlic in water to ward off deer, seems to work pretty well on them for a bit, but you have to reapply it regularly.
I recently read (here?) that garlic is a good repellent against foxes too. Here, "green" people use a decoction of garlic against fungal infections. Add cinnamon and you have a very good product against aphids. Add fresh ginger, cloves, turmeric, fennel, cardomom pods, black pepper and coriander and you can also have a good base for a curry. -JOKE-
Good morning @Niwaki and welcome to the Maples forum. I totally agree about the use of Garlic, Squirrels and other animals do not like it. It is very effective in fox deterrent measures also.
@AlainK, it was me that recommended garlic for foxes on the other forum. It really does work. I have witnessed it happening.
Years ago, while on a school trip, one of my fellow teachers called me to see the foxes coming into the frontyard of the house across the street. And the landlady that housed us would raise her eyebrows. I won't quote here what she said about her neighbour that put some saussages in her front garden to feed these lovely animals... ;0)
no squirrels here. I saw crows picking at it. I have put in some tree guards around the smaller trunk tree. I think it has recovered. I see new growth shooting out finally.