Fixing Apple Tree Bark: 3 Methods That Work

How to repair apple tree bark? You can save a tree with damaged bark by first determining the nature of the damage. Once you know the severity of the damage, you can use a method to care for the wound.

First you need to determine the nature and severity of the damage

How to repair apple tree bark?

#1 method

Remove the jagged bark around the wound, creating a smooth border to replace the uneven bark. This uneven bark often continues to crack and cause further damage, so removing it is important.

What you need:

Directions:

1. Carefully cut away the jagged bark with a chisel and hammer.
2. Discard any torn bark and remove loose bark from around the wound.
3. Don’t stab the wound, only the edges.
4. The growth of new bark over the wound is a good indicator that the tree will recover.

Repair the bark with a sharp chisel and hammer

#2 method

The simplest repair method is to reattach the bark to the trunk. If the bark has been peeled off the tree, you may be able to reattach it.

What you need:

• Fresh water
• duct tape

Reattach the bark to the trunk

Directions:

1. Clean the tree wound with water.
2. Gather the pieces of bark and glue them back to the tree. Be sure to place the bark so that it grows in the right direction.
3. Secure the bark with tape wrapped around the log.
4. Remove the tape within a year if it is still stuck. Once the bark has reconnected to the tree, it remains attached.

Clean the tree wound with water

#3 method

Since the tree’s roots are the last to die, a repair graft (bridge graft) can often save the tree. This graft literally creates a bridge of life between the roots and the leaves. Depending on the success of the bridge graft, the tree may recover. The bridge gives the tree enough time to close the wound and grow new tissue around it.

What you need:

A repair graft (bridge graft) can save the tree

Directions:

1. Clean the tree wound. Remove any uneven and sharp edges by rounding them off. Also remove loose bark.
2. Select healthy branches or, if the tree is small, healthy twigs.
3. The ideal branches/twigs should be no larger than the diameter of your thumb.
4. Make sure the branches/twigs (bridges) are longer (2 to 7 cm) than the width of the wound.
5. The phloem can only move in one direction, so it’s important that you mark the top of the bridges.
6. Using a knife, cut one side of each branch (the end of the branch) until it lays flat against the trunk of the tree.
7. Then cut off the other side to create a wedge.

Remove any uneven and sharp edges by rounding them off. Also remove loose bark.

Create a flap for bridges

1. Cut two parallel lines with the knife, starting at the wound. Make sure the ends of the tabs stick to the tree.
2. The branches must be carefully pushed under the tab so that the bark does not detach from the tree.
3. Slide the branches (bridges) under the flap.
4. In the end, the flap should still be attached to the trunk.
5. The goal is for the bridges and the phloem and cambium to grow together under the bark.
6. The graft will then restore exchanges between the leaves and roots.
7. While there is no guarantee that the bridges will save the tree, this technique gives it a chance to recover from the damage.
8. You know the bridges are working when the tree puts out new leaves and the canopy grows again.

The bridges work as soon as the tree puts out new leaves and the treetop grows again