Girdled tree

New to this forum and gardening generally. Managed to girdle young pear tree with strimmer. It has not lost bark all the way round but the vast majority of it has been removed in a fairly thin strip. Is there any way I can save the tree? I've read a little on bridge grafting but I think this will be difficult as the tree is so young. Could I cut the tree right back to below the girdle? This would take it back close to the ground. Is this an option? Thanks.

 

really thin? Cling film might be enough (I'd put that on anyway, whilst you are thinking of a solution!)

A photo of the damage would help.

 

Good idea Kristen, I once has a grapefruit bush which I wanted to control in the hope of getting flowers.
I ringbarked it and covered the area with tape.
The bark grew back after a few months.

Cutting back close to the ground is not an option as the plant is very likely to be grafted and as such you would probably be cutting below the graft.

 

Do you mean it was probably grafted originally or that as well as cling filming it I will probably need to get it grafted? Sorry, just want to check whether you think cling filming is actually a solution or just something to do ahead of bridge grafting - which I suspect isn't going to happen with this.

 

Was once advised to pack a little compress around that with moist moss and clingfilm .... seemed to work

 

I'm just suggesting it is probably a grafted plant, and if you cut below the graft you will only get suckers from the root stock and not the variety that was grafted onto it.

 

Should be able to see the graft - it will be a thickened part of the stem, and usually only an inch or two above the ground - about strimming height in fact :(