J House on thu 4 jan 07

> We inherited an apple tree of unknown variety when we moved into our
new place, and it's got some damage. I've looked through the
fruit/apple tree links Gloria posted (thank you, Gloria!), but haven't
found any pictures or descriptions that resemble our tree's. It's got
small (about the diameter of a pencil), shallow holes covering the
trunk and primary limbs, which the previous owner said was
woodpeckers. But I thought woodpeckers only fish out insects that are
alreading inside the tree? They wouldn't be drilling into a healthy
tree, would they? Does anyone have any idea what this is, and what, if
anything, can/should be done about it? I'm afraid the poor thing has
been neglected, and I'm no orchardist, but I would like to see it
getting some TLC. And, maybe even give us a few apples in return :)

Thanks!

Monique
GA Zone 8

GreenLady on thu 4 jan 07

Hi, yep, woodpeckers will peck small holes in trees, and if they did,
most likely there was something there that attracted them.

Here is a link with pictures of woodpecker damage and even a nice remedy!

http://www.entm.purdue.edu/wildlife/woodpecker_pictures.htm

MaryBeth

USA zone 3-4 North Dakota

hueyhome2 wrote:

hueyhome2 on fri 5 jan 07

Hi, folks!

We inherited an apple tree of unknown variety when we moved into our
new place, and it's got some damage. I've looked through the
fruit/apple tree links Gloria posted (thank you, Gloria!), but haven't
found any pictures or descriptions that resemble our tree's. It's got
small (about the diameter of a pencil), shallow holes covering the
trunk and primary limbs, which the previous owner said was
woodpeckers. But I thought woodpeckers only fish out insects that are
alreading inside the tree? They wouldn't be drilling into a healthy
tree, would they? Does anyone have any idea what this is, and what, if
anything, can/should be done about it? I'm afraid the poor thing has
been neglected, and I'm no orchardist, but I would like to see it
getting some TLC. And, maybe even give us a few apples in return :)

Thanks!

Monique
GA Zone 8

Gloria C. Baikauskas on fri 5 jan 07

Thanks for posting that, Janet! I added it to the Links in the Links
section on the Homepage for future reference for members.=20

Gloria, Texas
US zone 8a

--- In GardeningOrganically@yahoogroups.com, "J House"
wrote:

> Sounds like sapsuckers- do they live in your area? Check out this
link:

hueyhome2 on fri 5 jan 07

Hi, Janet!

The description of the damage, and photos, are right on. But,
according to the map, they're not supposed to be in our area (GA),
although apparently local groups can be found as far south as Tenn.=20
I guess I'll have to try to spot the critter to verify. If it is a
sapsucker, or woodpecker variety, I wonder of providing a suet feeder
will lure them away from the tree?

Thanks for the lead!

Monique
GA Zone 8

--- In GardeningOrganically@yahoogroups.com, "J House"
wrote:

> Sounds like sapsuckers- do they live in your area? Check out this
link:
our
> new place, and it's got some damage. I've looked through the
> fruit/apple tree links Gloria posted (thank you, Gloria!), but
haven't
> found any pictures or descriptions that resemble our tree's. It's
got
> small (about the diameter of a pencil), shallow holes covering the
> trunk and primary limbs, which the previous owner said was
> woodpeckers. But I thought woodpeckers only fish out insects that
are
> alreading inside the tree? They wouldn't be drilling into a healthy
> tree, would they? Does anyone have any idea what this is, and what,
if

Roni on fri 5 jan 07

Monique,
We live in GA and have seen them several times. They like one old pine tree that I think is half rotten.
Roni