Thanks for taking a look at this post. The tree was planted 2 years ago, and this spring while cleaning up I noticed the bark damage, which extends around about 2/3 of the stem and seems to be at the graft. Should I just replace it, or is there a chance for a reasonable life for this poor fellow? Any opinions/suggestions much appreciated.
It looks like all the damage is below the graft and on the south facing side. In that case the summer heat and sun took a toll on a sensitive rootstock and being that the north side is still intact with connections to the north root it can still recover. So before summer when it comes around I would start using white latex paint or create a shadow to everything below the graft. Very similar things we see in Alaska to fruit trees which actually get damaged by "sunscald" but only earlier in the year while snow is still covering the ground and adding a reflection to direct sun that's already there. Even at that young stage when the roots are not very established they still recover over a couple of years with the proper watering (snow melt) and sun prevention techniques.
Anyone else?
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Another viable option to replacing the tree is "gel pack" application to the north root.
Idyllwild
jafar
Marsha H
Viron
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