It looks to me that the branch should be removed at the branch collar. The wound itself is too large to heal. DO NOT use any sealant - the tree will compartmentalize around the wound. Sad that the truck got that close!

he means it should be properly cut off.. at the trunk .. and then left to heal on its own ... just like the prior one has done .... that healed cut ...

had it been mine... it would have been pruned off a decade ago .. foreseeing that it would overhang the road/driveway ... when the other one was taken ...

and while you are at it.. if the branch on the other side... hangs down into the sidewalk... have that one taken off also ...

is this within your physical capabilities??? .. or will you hire out the job ... do you know what a branch collar is ...

pruning is not a problem to a tree.. done proper ... that big gaping wound.. is a problem ... so remove it.. by having the tree properly pruned ...

ken

hortster thank you for the information! I will use the three cut method to the branch collar. I'm glad I found this forum as new home owners I would hate to do more damage to such a beautiful tree after all these years. Thanks again.

Few dogwoods get that large/old.

It's prb'ly best to cut it off at the trunk, but dogwood wood is pretty durable & rot might not be an issue before the dogwood dies of old age. I say this assuming there's another remaining branch coming off that main branch (hard to say from that pic-angle).

In any event, wounds need exposure to air so they stay dry & that slows rot -- whether you leave it or cut it off at the trunk. No sealants!

Is it just me or is that branch trunk union looking like it has a webbed connection? Likely just how the pic looks from this angle. Must be a massive branch on the other side.