Snake Bark Maple - damaged in windy weather‏
 

Hello All,

I hope you can help me.

I have a Snake Bark Maple which I planted last year & it is currently around 9' tall.

Around 4' up from the ground the main trunk divides into two with around 65% going almost straight up & the remaining 35% branching off.

During the recent windy weather which lasted a couple of days, this branch broke off the main trunk.

This join was around 4' up from the ground & the most severely part of the damaged trunk is 3" long which extends to 6" if you include the damaged & torn bark.
At the point where the branch broke off, the main trunk is down to almost half its thickness, although its generally around two thirds thickness.

This tree is my favourite & I am desperately trying to find out if it can be saved.

I have put in a large 8' stake & tied it above the break.

I wondered if I should cover it with a plastic bag to stop disease & infection getting in, but if I do that then condensation will form, surely leading to rot.

Is there a paint or something which I could apply to the wound to stop infection whilst it heals?

Any advice you can give me on how to repair the damaged part of the trunk would be very much appreciated.

I understand the biggest enemy is dehydration & i'm worried that I might not have spotted the damage quickly enough.

Thank you very much. Simon.


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