Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Repairing A Tree With A Bruised Trunk
I have a very young Japanese Maple that received a small hack in its
bark. (The bark is just peeled away.) The hack is about the size of a nickel and is located about inch or two above ground level. Here are my questions. - Will this young tree be able to repair the damage and live a long and healthy life? - Is there anything I can do to treat the injury? - Or it is pretty much game over and just a matter of time before insects and/or disease find the weak spot and invade? - If this is the case, should I just replace it now with a new Japanese Maple? Patrick |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
|
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Trim any ragged areas away to bark that is sound and tight to the stem.
This will allow the tree the best chance of healing. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
|
#6
|
|||
|
|||
On 23 Jan 2005 19:35:05 -0800, wrote:
- Will this young tree be able to repair the damage and live a long and healthy life? Yup. As long as it's not completely girdled - Is there anything I can do to treat the injury? 1) If it's really fresh, and the humidity has been high continuously since injury, and the flap is still intact, place it back over the naked wood, and secure it with something that has some stretch to it, like a piece of nylon stocking. Give it a few months, and then remove the "bandage", and see if the flap is going to adhere. If so, do nothing. If not, go to #2. 2) If the flap has been hanging there drying out for days, or if it's missing entirely, or if #1 didn't work, trim the edges of the remaining bark smoothly, using something like a new single edged razor blade. Mulch around the tree so you don't skin the bark again. (aka "string trimmer blight"). 3) If it's completely girdled, you may be able to save it with bridge grafts, using twigs from the same tree. See: http://www.hort.uconn.edu/ipm/homegrnd/htms/28graft.htm If you don't have grafting wax, use saran wrap around the area till you can get some and replace the saran. - Or it is pretty much game over and just a matter of time before insects and/or disease find the weak spot and invade? Nope. Just change whatever weeding or trimming habit caused the problem in the first place, if that's how it happened. - If this is the case, should I just replace it now with a new Japanese Maple? Plants are pretty tough. They're not dead till they're compost. Kay |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 16:43:34 -0500, "LFR" wrote:
"John Bachman" wrote in message ... On 24 Jan 2005 08:32:02 -0800, wrote: Trim any ragged areas away to bark that is sound and tight to the stem. This will allow the tree the best chance of healing. I disagree. The ragged bark areas may be unsightly but they threaten no harm to the tree. Unprofessional or careless trimming may result in more harm. Leave it alone. John I agree with John...a tree will heal itself much the same way as the human body does.... Yes and no . . . trees have no immune system, cannot regenerate damaged tissue, and do not "heal" but they can grow new tissue to cover wounds. They are much better at doing this where proper branch collar cuts are made, but this tree may well cover the area of missing bark with new tissue eventually. keith babberney isa certified arborist |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
AD: Versatile product for repairing Grape vine trellis wires, deer stand supports, fences: Jake's W | Lawns | |||
Repairing poor soil drainage | Lawns | |||
Repairing poor soil drainage | Lawns | |||
new help repairing lawn in wintertime | Lawns | |||
Repairing forest and garden tools and information | alt.forestry |