A small branch with a crack can be wrapped with graft tape or electrical tape to hold it together. As long as there is good contact between the cambium, or inner layer of bark, of the two pieces, the wood should melt after a few months of growth. For slightly larger branches that do not support their own weight with only grafting tape, a splint can be made by sandwiching the gap between two lightweight pieces of wood, attached with a twine. Supporting the branch from below with a forked crutch or tying it to a larger branch at the top will help to further stabilize it.
All graft materials must be removed within a year so that the repaired branch can continue to grow without restriction. However, when a tree or shrub has a broken branch, it is almost always easier to cut the losses and eliminate them. As long as the trunk and most of the main branches are intact, the plant will recover. For safety reasons, someone more experienced than the weekend woodcutter should remove bent trees and branches larger than 6 inches in diameter.
Try not to expose more of the cambium (greenish inner bark) than necessary, because these fragile layers contain the tree's food and water lifelines between the roots and leaves. If there are still many branches left along the trunk, they will grow more vigorously as the tree tries to replace what it lost. If you need to assess a damaged tree, are ready to say goodbye, or think it can be saved, you can rely on the knowledge of the All Season Tree Service about Edmonton trees. Bracing and wiring are effective techniques that allow the tree to heal on its own and make it more resistant to future weather events.
The few remaining branches cannot provide enough foliage to allow the tree to survive another growing season. Serious damage can also occur consisting of large broken branches, split crotch and bark removal, and chipping or chipping of the trunk. They can clean debris from the storm, repair damaged spots by pruning, and determine if the tree needs to be removed. The wounds are too big to heal, and the tree has lost its lifeline of sap between the roots and leaves.
The few remaining branches cannot provide enough foliage for the tree to spend another growing season. Figure 2Although the tree has been damaged, there may be enough strong branches left on a basically healthy tree to save it. Even small fissures can weaken the tree and make it more likely to suffer serious damage during windstorms. Once it has been determined that a tree can be rescued, there are certain procedures that must be followed.
Figure 1The trees closest to the right in this Buffalo, Missouri neighborhood will need to be replaced, but those in the background will survive with proper care. If you are considering using a tree wound dressing to help heal the wound, read this related question of the week. If the fracture does not reach the ground and there are no signs of decay or infestation, the tree can heal itself, although it may need help.
