Wisteria

[priscadog]

Hi, I discovered this morning that the lower bark of my Wisteria (which is about 6 years old and about 2-3 ins dia) has been chewed by something - about 6" length of bark has been removed - cant see any visible signs of anything and as far as I know rabbits dont invade the garden. Any ideas please from anyone?

[dincur]

Hi P if the bark is removed all the way round you can expect it to die off on top. I'd give it a chance and reckon it'll shoot again from the base. And if it only shoots from below the graft live with it or dig it up and plant the early flowerer. It is more visable than the laterer one.

[Glutton4...]

Can you protect the stem with something like a tree spiral or shrub shelter? Failing that, wrap a bit of Chicken wire round it, or even an old bit of drain-pipe or a flower pot? It should stop it happening again. If the bark gets chewed off all the way round it will probably kill the plant. Also, you could try rubbing something like Vaseline all over the exposed area, this will help protect it from the elements, and may act like a 'plaster' does on human skin, and help it to heal over. If there is a loose flap of bark, tape it up with some hessian sacking, like a bandage, and leave it until it has healed. This could take a year.

Good luck!

[priscadog]

thanks for your help-no the bark is not off all the way round and in fact the year before last the leaves all fell off (I think due to lack of water) but it grew shoots from the bottom-the leaves are still in tact at the moment!

[priscadog]

thanks for your help, yes I'll try the hessian and protect the bark with chicken wire.