[Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[4dmmt07 at q.com]

d. Mowen
85085
4dmmt07 at q.com

I just planted chilean mesquites, the size of the trunk approx 1 inch to 1&1/2 inch in diameter.  Within 2days, the rabbits have chewed all around the base of the trunk and approx 12 inches up the trunk except for a 1/2 inch strip up the back side of the tree where they could not chew. There is another 12" of trunk above that they did not chew. I have since placed chicken wire around the trunk.  It is 5 feet tall. It is a 24" box tree.  There is only one main trunk. Will the tree die or live?    Thank you for your help.