Field and Garden: Homeowners are asking if their trees will survive

The National Weather Service got it right in January when they forecast a cold, wet spring in our region.

Daily temperatures in Carrington averaged 13 degrees below normal in March and April, including a streak of 58 consecutive days when we failed to reach our normal daily high.

Total precipitation during the last two months was 50 percent above normal.

If you are wondering what to expect during the next three months, long-range models aren’t indicating any clear trends. From now through July, our region has equal chances of above, below or near-average temperatures and precipitation amounts.

Our normal high on May 6 is 63 degrees, and the normal low is 37 degrees. The median date of our last freeze is May 12, although one year out of ten we get that cold as late as May 25.

The way this winter has gone, I can guess what you are thinking.

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I’ve had two tree-related questions from homeowners recently.

One person asked about their honeycrisp apple tree. Rabbits had eaten the bark all the way around the tree during winter.

Another person reported that her maple tree was oozing sap from holes made in the trunk by a yellow-bellied sapsucker.

Both homeowners were wondering if their trees will survive.

A rule of thumb is that an otherwise healthy tree will survive when bark is removed from less than one fourth the circumference of the tree. If 25 to 50 percent of the bark is removed, then the survival of the tree is questionable. When bark is removed more than halfway around the trunk, the tree will likely die.

It goes without saying that the same rule applies to branches. I’ve seen many trees around town where rabbits must have been atop snow drifts while gnawing branches two or more feet above the ground.

The damage caused by yellow-bellied sapsuckers is more difficult to quantify.

These birds create nearly straight rows of small holes - called “wells” - in the tree bark. Sapsuckers use their specialized tongues to collect the nutritious sap as it collects in the wells.

The holes created by sapsuckers are generally shallow, and the trees can quickly seal off the hole. There are times, however, when the damage is enough to significantly weaken a tree or even cause its death.

Once the damage is done, only time will tell the outcome.

If you have a tree that is annually attacked by yellow-bellied sapsuckers, you might try covering the affected areas with tree wrap or hardware cloth while the birds are in our area during summer.

Do not leave the wrap on year-round because disease problems can result.

On the topic of wraps, now is the time to remove the white tree guards that protected the trunks of young trees from sunscald during winter.

I’ve seen some cases where the guards were left in place for several years and were nearly strangling the trees. The guards can also harbor insects and diseases.

The focus now should be protecting trunks from lawnmowers and weedeaters.

A ring of mulch three feet in diameter around the tree can help. The mulch layer should be three inches deep and at least three inches away from the tree trunk.