Bark on apple tree gone

Question

Is there any hope for an apple tree surviving after the bark is gone? Peeled off and an occasional seepage. Apples are not edible. Misshapen, small, and bug infested.

Answer 1

If the bark has been removed in a ring that goes all the way around the tree, the tree will not be able to deliver nutrients to its branches and leaves and will die. This is known as girdling.

There is a technique called bridge grafting which can save trees in this situation, but it is best applied by an expert and is typically used in commercial apple orchards. These articles describe how it works:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/how-to-fix-girdled-trees.htm
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/bridge_grafting_as_a_life_saving_procedure_for_trees
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/bridge_grafting_girdled_fruit_tree_trunks