Question
I have a young pear tree, about 2" in diameter, that rabbits chewed off the bark from the ground up about 3" all the way around the tree.  The rabbits did not chew all the way to wood, but the bark is in pretty rough shape.  Is there a way or product to help save the tree?

Answer
The most effective way to prevent rabbit damage to trees and shrubs in the home landscape is to place chicken wire fencing or hardware cloth around vulnerable plants. To adequately protect plants, the fencing material needs to be high enough that rabbits won抰 be able to climb or reach over the fence after a heavy snow. In most cases, a fence that stands 24 to 36 inches tall should be sufficient.

To prevent rabbits from crawling underneath the fencing, bury the bottom 2 or 3 inches below the ground or pin the fencing to the soil with u-shaped anchor pins. Young trees can also be protected by placing white spiral tree guards around their trunks. Since the weather in late fall in Iowa is unpredictable, it抯 best to have the protective materials in place by early to mid-November. After a heavy snow, check protected plants to make sure rabbits aren抰 able to reach or climb over the fencing or tree guards. If necessary, remove some of the snow to keep rabbits from reaching the trees or shrubs.

Damage may also be reduced by removing brush, junk piles, and other places where rabbits live and hide. Repellents are another option. Repellents discourage rabbit browsing because of their unpleasant taste or smell. Unfortunately, repellents aren抰 always effective and may need to be reapplied after a heavy rain or snow. It may also be helpful to reduce the rabbit population in the area by removing some of the rabbits with live traps.

Since the wound is not to the wood the tree should survive if no more damage is done. Grafting wax can be applied to the wound this will help hold moisture around the wound and promote faster healing. Check with your local nursery for grafting wax.