|
| Hello, my friends Willow tree was cut by the neighbors, and it was cut rather horizontally. Cracks are forming on the face of the cut, and I'm afraid it will start rotting into the trunk. Is there anything I need to do to help the tree heal properly? Will this cut kill the tree? |
Follow-Up Postings:
|
- Posted by goonie1462 7 (My Page) on Sun, Aug 26, 12 at 13:51
| top view |
|
| If the branch/trunk had to be removed in the first place, it was done reasonably well. There's nothing you can do at this point, except maybe apply liquid copper fungicide (see thread linked below). Willows are relatively short-lived trees anyway, so I wouldn't consider the wound to necessarily be determinative in the life expectancy of your tree. Ideally, the cut shouldn't have been made unless the branch just had to go, but what's done is done. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Liquid Copper Fungicide Thread
|
- Posted by wisconsitom 4/5 WI (My Page) on Sun, Aug 26, 12 at 22:39
| Yup^. It's not bad really. As Brandon said, if the cut had to be, then this was a reasonably good job of it. BTW, trees don't heal. Wounds on animals heal. In time, new cells completely replace the damaged or destroyed ones. On trees, the wound remains forever, or for the full length of that plants life. It is gradually walled off in all dimensions by chemical and physical barriers, and by the deposition of new wood as the tree grows. This is known as "compartmentalization". The walling off of wounds is least efficient in the vertical dimension. That's why there are hollow trees. +oM |
|
- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Mon, Aug 27, 12 at 13:46
| i agree.. that is the best cut that could be made ... on any variable i can contemplate ... it is enough of an angle to shed water ... it is not horizontal as you suggest ... but as an aside ... IMHO.. willow is not a great tree for a small yard.. does it.. in any way overhang anything precious to you ... in the last pic.. is see a house very close by ... you might want to start mulling its future removal ... and again.. it would have nothing to do with this cut ... chill on the neighbor.. they did a good job.. IMHO ... ken |
|
| That's not unreasonable -- maybe a bit lazy. I'm lazy like that cutting branches off my small (30') WW knowing it'll heal quickly. At least the adjacent branches don't look like they were cut-into. Cracks are inevitable as the wood dries & shrinks. |
|
- Posted by goonie1462 (My Page) on Tue, Aug 28, 12 at 16:35
| Thank you for your responses. They are most informative and helpful. |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Trees Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.