Re: Bark damage on lemon tree

From	"David E. Ross" <nobody@nowhere.invalid>
Newsgroups	rec.gardens
Subject	Re: Bark damage on lemon tree
Date	2024-03-19 14:18 -0700
Organization	I am @ David at rossde dot com.
Message-ID	<utcvf5$11rao$1@dont-email.me> (permalink)
References	<utcpl2$10ic7$1@dont-email.me>

Show all headers | View raw

On 3/19/2024 12:39 PM, bp@www.zefox.net wrote:
> Significant amount of bark have been stripped from a mature lemon
> tree, apparently in the last several hours. Both squirrels and rats
> are abundant in the area, but in sixteen years I've never seen the
> lemon tree damaged at all. I've observed squirrels feeding on mulberry
> buds each spring, but they quit once the trees leaf out and haven't
> done serious damage.
> 
> The lemon tree is a different story; large areas of bark are gone, maybe
> 20% of the main stem surface area. Trunk seems to be left alone, foliage
> hasn't been touched. One major limb is entirely debarked, all seemingly
> overnight. 
> 
> I'm suspecting squirrels primarily, but roof rats are present also. 
> Are there any other likely suspects, and any potential control measures?
> The tree is in a small back yard surrounded by larger trees, the house
> and fences. Denying jump access will be very difficult.  
> 
> If anybody's got ideas please share them. 
> 
> Thanks for reading,
> 
> bob prohaska
> 
> 

Is it possible that the sun was shining on the affected limbs?  Citrus
bark is very sensitive to sunburn.  Commercial orchards often paint the
trunks and large limbs with whitewash.  I merely prune my dwarf citrus
in a way that the foliage shades the branches.

-- 
David E. Ross
Climate:  California Mediterranean, see
<http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html>
Gardening diary at <http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary>

Thread

Bark damage on lemon tree <bp@www.zefox.net> - 2024-03-19 19:39 +0000
  Re: Bark damage on lemon tree Leon Fisk <lfiskgr@gmail.invalid> - 2024-03-19 16:03 -0400
    Re: Bark damage on lemon tree <bp@www.zefox.net> - 2024-03-20 01:11 +0000
      Re: Bark damage on lemon tree Leon Fisk <lfiskgr@gmail.invalid> - 2024-03-20 09:55 -0400
    Re: Bark damage on lemon tree Janet <nobody@home.com> - 2024-03-20 15:13 +0000
  Re: Bark damage on lemon tree "David E. Ross" <nobody@nowhere.invalid> - 2024-03-19 14:18 -0700
    Re: Bark damage on lemon tree <bp@www.zefox.net> - 2024-03-20 01:23 +0000
      Re: Bark damage on lemon tree songbird <songbird@anthive.com> - 2024-03-20 00:31 -0400
        Re: Bark damage on lemon tree Bob F <bobnospam@gmail.com> - 2024-03-19 21:50 -0700
          Re: Bark damage on lemon tree <bp@www.zefox.net> - 2024-03-20 17:14 +0000
            Re: Bark damage on lemon tree Leon Fisk <lfiskgr@gmail.invalid> - 2024-03-20 14:33 -0400
              Re: Bark damage on lemon tree <bp@www.zefox.net> - 2024-03-20 19:40 +0000
                Re: Bark damage on lemon tree Leon Fisk <lfiskgr@gmail.invalid> - 2024-03-20 16:52 -0400
                Re: Bark damage on lemon tree songbird <songbird@anthive.com> - 2024-03-20 20:14 -0400
                Re: Bark damage on lemon tree <bp@www.zefox.net> - 2024-03-23 18:38 +0000
                Re: Bark damage on lemon tree Leon Fisk <lfiskgr@gmail.invalid> - 2024-03-23 14:55 -0400
                Re: Bark damage on lemon tree <bp@www.zefox.net> - 2024-03-24 05:17 +0000
                Re: Bark damage on lemon tree Leon Fisk <lfiskgr@gmail.invalid> - 2024-03-24 08:21 -0400
                Re: Bark damage on lemon tree <bp@www.zefox.net> - 2024-03-24 17:16 +0000
    Re: Bark damage on lemon tree "David E. Ross" <nobody@nowhere.invalid> - 2024-03-20 16:45 -0700
      Re: Bark damage on lemon tree <bp@www.zefox.net> - 2024-04-03 02:12 +0000
        Re: Bark damage on lemon tree Leon Fisk <lfiskgr@gmail.invalid> - 2024-04-03 08:31 -0400
        Re: Bark damage on lemon tree "cshenk" <cshenk@virginia-beach.net> - 2024-04-03 14:57 +0000

csiph-web