Hello All
I hope that someone can advise on what help I can give one of my apple trees.
We recently moved in to our new place which has an enclosed 'veg garden'. However as unoccupied for more thatn 5 years, and previous occupant elderly it was more of a bramble and nettle garden with a load of conifers and 3 fruit trees. We have cleared out conifers and hacked back brambles then put in our 2 GOS sows to clear the rest. All was going well until I realised that they had started to eat the bark of one of the smaller (4ft ish) apple trees. By the time I realised what they were doing they had taken large chunks of bark off.
Tree looks/looked lovely with blossom about to come out. I have now protected the trunk from further pig damage (I hope!), but I am concerned about possible infection, and wondering whether it is possible that bark will grow back ( I suspect not). I seem to remember that there is something that can be used when cutting off large branches to protect against infection etc, but not sure if it is appropriate in this situation? The bark as not been stripped all the way around ( so nutrients still able to travel), so I am hopeful that tree will survive with some help.
Thanks in advance for any advice.