verb
girdle
To remove a ring of bark around a tree trunk to kill the tree.
The forester girdles an unwanted tree by removing a complete ring of bark.
Etymology
The tree treatment uses the shape of a girdle. Removing an encircling strip of bark interrupts the living tissues around the trunk and can kill the tree.
More examples
- Workers girdled the invasive trees instead of cutting them down.
- Girdling a tree stops nutrients from reaching its roots.
- The dead oak was girdled last spring.
Forms
girdle · girdles · girdled · girdling
Similar words
- debark
- Means removing bark, not necessarily a complete ring that kills.