What does girdling do to a tree?

Girdling a tree refers to the practice of removing a strip of bark all the way around the trunk. This disrupts the flow of nutrients and water between the roots and the leaves, which travel through the inner bark (phloem) and cambium layers of the tree. When this critical connection is severed, the tree cannot sustain itself, leading ultimately to its death.

This method is sometimes used deliberately in forestry and land management to control unwanted trees, as it effectively prevents the tree from being able to photosynthesize and thrive. The severing of these vital tissues means that not only does the tree fail to receive nutrients from the roots, but it also cannot transport the sugars produced in the leaves down to the roots, resulting in a fatal block to its lifeline.

The other choices suggest benefits or improvements to the tree's health and aesthetics, which do not apply in the case of girdling, as it is inherently a harmful action leading to the demise of the tree.