Complete girdling (the bark removed from a band completely encircling the tree) will certainly kill the tree. The reason for damage due to girdling is that the phloem layer of tissue just below the bark is responsible for carrying food produced in the leaves by photosynthesis to the roots. ... Then the leaves die.

Can a tree survive being girdled?

A tree can usually survive if less than half its circumference is girdled. Even so, the area with the embedded material is weak and susceptible to breaking.

How long does it take for a tree to die from girdling?

Be patient when looking for the results, as the tree will appear fine until the need for nutrients from the roots becomes great in the following spring. Sometimes it might take two years for the tree to die.