alexbug: Don't apply sealant or try to wrap the damaged area of your trees. This would be more likely to hinder than help them recover. There is a high likelihood that the little trees will recover completely in one season on their own. Insulation from cold is not a consideration. I have had young apple trees 3/4 stripped by buck deer with that unfortunate habit of antler rubbing, and they recovered fully. Now, several years later, you can't even see where the rubbing occurred. You have already done all you can by installing wire cages, now it's just wait and see. Bad dog. Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

esox07: Just went on the computer and read your posting. I hope that you found what you need. Please let us know if this bark product can be used to make the quick-draining, gritty-planting medium....the '"bark-fines" part. I guess the price is not that high considering the Repti-Bark is $20.00 a bag... and you can always use the leftovers in the future if you make too much potting mix. Just a bit more information....There's a product called: "Micro Bark" made by GreenAll but it's mainly found only on the West-Coast, and a few other states. This might help others who live in these locations. No distributors/retailers in NYC area! Why???? Who knows? Bruce,...Good luck with the peppers. I hope I helped you and others. In addition: Some posters on this thread chose to misquote and misrepresent some of the information which I posted ... especially about the subject regarding the gritty-mix, potting mediums. The purpose of these forums is to openly exchange opinions, information, and ideas... and to do so without invective, and snide recommendations, if you happen to disagree with that posted information.

They get very shreddy and lots of loose bark, as the bush gets older. Mine went from tight bark to really peely looking in two years as bush increased in size and thickness of branching. Same with the one planted at my mom's house. She also thought there was something wrong with it because of the shredding bark at the base. Growing too much might be a problem, her bush is growing up at twice the rate mine is. Had to top it off, was reaching for the overhead wires. Is the smaller, skinned branch leafing out too? If so, I would not worry about the branch. I think shreddy bark bushes have another layer that carries nutrients up to the top. So a bald looking place may not mean that branch or stem is "girdled" like a tight barked shrub would be. Mine have not died with the bald places on the sticks. So far as I know, rabbits don't bother it at all. My puppy developed a taste for it though!! I put up a cage, but large puppy gnawed off a couple large branches that hung down over the fence. Really seemed to enjoy chewing those sticks! She left the fence alone but nothing sticks out where she can reach it now. Never had a dog go after sticks and bushes like this one. Nice dog in almost every other way, loves to lay and watch me play in the dirt!

Voles eat below the snow. Rabbits is most likely. Check for animal tracks in order to better id the varmint.