Help with squirrel damage!

[PL1]

I need some help with the damage squirrels have caused to the base of the bark. What can I do to repair the bark and to make sure I don't loose the tree? Additionally, any feedback on protecting the palms from squirrels would be appreciated. Do I need to use some type of wrap or wire mesh around the trees? Thanks!

[96720]

You can’t repair it I have the same problem i always put a fence around them when they are small I have never had one chewed on when they get bigger I think it’s time to get out the gun!!

[Jack Lord]

Bloodmeal can be an effective deterrent. Years ago I lived in Brooklyn, NY and saw it in a small garden shop. The owner said everyone who had window boxes in their brownstones used it to deter squirrels from wreaking havoc on their flowers. The theory is that since it comes from something bigger than them that died, the squirrels fear it. I tried it in a planter I had on my fire escape. A squirrel approached, took one sniff, and fled. So it does work, especially after a rain.

The flip side is it might attract dogs or raccoons who sense a meal rather than a killing field. 

 

[Jim in Los Altos]

I don’t see a problem in the photos. That material on the trunk that the squirrels are tampering with is dead leaf bases and fibers. It falls away from very mature Windmill palms anyway and some people have it all stripped off for a cleaner appearance. 

[Tracy]

23 minutes ago, Jim in Los Altos said:

I don’t see a problem in the photos.

Same thing I thought Jim.  The stringy portion of old leaf bases are also a favorite of many birds for building nests.

[Merlyn]

@PL1 Windmill palms (Trachycarpus Fortunei) are sometimes left hairy/furry and sometimes people strip off the fuzzy stuff and old frond bases.  It's more of a cosmetic thing than any damage.  As long as the squirrels or birds are not chewing into the actual trunk, it's not something to be concerned about...for the *health* of the palm.  Here's some examples I found:

 

[ZPalms]

cleaned trunks look so nice but does the fuzzy stuff aid in trunk insulation?

[PL1]

Thank you all for your feedback.  Looks like I can leave the palm alone and it should be fine. 

[Jim in Los Altos]

On 10/6/2022 at 5:30 PM, ZPalms said:

cleaned trunks look so nice but does the fuzzy stuff aid in trunk insulation?

Since palms are not warm blooded creatures, the trunk “fur” is of minimal at best cold protection. A bare trunk and a hairy one will eventually be the same temperature since there’s no heat source. 

[ZPalms]

8 hours ago, Jim in Los Altos said:

Since palms are not warm blooded creatures, the trunk “fur” is of minimal at best cold protection. A bare trunk and a hairy one will eventually be the same temperature since there’s no heat source. 

Oh that makes sense, haha thanks 😂