Rabbit Damage

[bobbywett]

Hello Folks,

Last winter rabbits snuck through a hole in my bonsai shed and ate the bark off of 13 of my trees. These 3 are the only ones to survive the assault. They are 2 tridents and one Japanese maple. I was surprised they even put out foliage to tell you the truth. Should I be doing anything in particular to try and help heal the bark? Will the bark grow back?

Thanks for any help,

Bobby

 

[BitsaBon]

well, it certainly adds carrotcter...

 

[Shibui]

Bark will grow back at a rate commensurate with growth above. Large areas take some years to grow over. Bark can only grow over a firm base so if the wood rots first the bark cannot heal over.
Some of the smaller damage will heal easily, the larger area on the trident might not cover completely.
There's always options for any problem. Often such a disaster is a bonus because it forces us to look for better solutions to otherwise mediocre trees

 

[rockm]

Callus tissue and bark will eventually re-cover the wounds, BUT that callus tissue is mostly a patch of sorts, no buds, and it will not move water from the roots up the trunk. The tree will most likely build pathways around the callus to leaves above. That single live patch is sustaining your tree currently. Protect it.

Sooooo if you're planning on new shoots from the callus tissues it might be a long futile wait. You can graft new shoots to it though. Usually done with a seedling and a thread graft.

Shoot your rabbits...

 

[bobbywett]

Callus tissue and bark will eventually re-cover the wounds, BUT that callus tissue is mostly a patch of sorts, no buds, and it will not move water from the roots up the trunk. The tree will most likely build pathways around the callus to leaves above. That single live patch is sustaining your tree currently. Protect it.

Sooooo if you're planning on new shoots from the callus tissues it might be a long futile wait. You can graft new shoots to it though. Usually done with a seedling and a thread graft.

Shoot your rabbits...

Thank You

 

[bobbywett]

Bark will grow back at a rate commensurate with growth above. Large areas take some years to grow over. Bark can only grow over a firm base so if the wood rots first the bark cannot heal over.
Some of the smaller damage will heal easily, the larger area on the trident might not cover completely.
There's always options for any problem. Often such a disaster is a bonus because it forces us to look for better solutions to otherwise mediocre trees

Thank You

 

[Ninecloud]

you lost 10?! that is heart breaking... i have 13 in training now... i can't fathom it.
f for respects

 

[bobbywett]

you lost 10?! that is heart breaking... i have 13 in training now... i can't fathom it.
f for respects

Yeah, it sucks. But I still have about 40. So it’s a real hard learning experience