Girdling

Girdling results in the removal of the phloem, and death occurs from the inability of the leaves to transport sugars (primarily sucrose) to the roots.

In this process, the xylem is left untouched, and the tree can usually still temporarily transport water and minerals from the roots to the leaves.

Death occurs when the roots can no longer produce ATP and transport nutrients upwards through the xylem.

[2] Ring barking techniques have been developed to disrupt or impede sugar transport in phloem, stimulating early flower production and increasing fruiting, and for controlling plant size, reducing the need for pruning.

[3] Girdling is a slow process compared to felling and is often used only when necessary, such as in the removal of an individual tree from an ecologically protected area without damaging surrounding growth.

[citation needed] Girdling is also used as a technique to force a fruit-bearing plant to bear larger fruit.

They most frequently attack pine, birch, maple, spruce and fruit trees and do the most damage during breeding season and territory establishment between February and June.

[12] In the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe, the eastern grey squirrel is also known to girdle or entirely strip bark from trees.

[13] Agrilus biguttatus can girdle trees through their feeding behavior and create zigzag galleries that measure up to 1.5 meters in length.

There are several invasive species that harm trees in this way and cause significant damage to forest canopy and the health of ecosystems dependent on it.