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[gfstone <gfstone@bellsouth.net>]

I had about twenty dwarf apple root stock grafted w/ scion wood in a row 
attempting to creat an espaliar (?) arrangement.  After two or three years of 
working on this they all died.  On examination they were systematically 
girdled 
about two inches below the surface by, I assume, mice, moles, or voles.  B4 
attempting to re-do this row I would like suggestions on what preventive 
measures I can take to avoid a recurrance.
    What I did on preparing the ground for planting is:
- dig out roots and stones in the 2' x 30' row
- added ammendments to the sifted soil
- returned this mixture to the trench
- planted my trees at about 18" spacing 
- added a support structure to train the limbs
The trees were doing fine until this summer when they were discovered to be 
girdled :(

Geoffrey - Black Mountain, NC
>From alandhaigh@gmail.com  Wed Sep 28 16:43:57 2011
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From: Alan Haigh <alandhaigh@gmail.com>
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Subject: [NAFEX] Dead dwarf trees
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If it was just a couple inches of girdling just above the graft union it was
almost certainly meadow voles.  You can wrap the trunks with hardware
clothe, aluminum foil, plastic tree clothe and other products designed for
the purpose but it's a good idea to trap out your voles in the fall or bait
them out.  I trap them with mouse traps covered with a large plastic tray.

Although your trees probably leafed out and looked fine at first they were
probably girdled in the winter or very early spring.