Rabbits ate the bark off my young trees?

[Chigger]

Rabbits ate the bark off my young trees this winter what can I do to protect them? They are bratford pear, apple and crab apple. Is there something I can put on the trunk?

 

[DadF]

A ring of chicken wire around the trunk would help. Make it a very loose circle so that it doesn't dig into the bark. Just remember to remove in the spring. Also a piece of PVC corrugated drain tile split down the side and slipped around the trunk will help too. Again it should be removed as soon as practical.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

If all the bark is gone, you'll have to replace them, the vascular tissue is gone.

If the trees are in areas where snow piles up, then sometimes it is good to shovel the young ones out. this removes the cover for the rodents.