Best way to treat tree wound?

[JeremyL]

Is there a way to treat this wound in order to get the most life out of the remaining tree trunk? I had to take out one part of this twin-trunk tree since it was too close to the house.
I have always heard the you don't need to put on a cut sealer. But how do I keep water from filling up the rotted core of the stump.
Appreciate it.

 

[Egon]

Drill a small hole to drain the trapped water.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I spray mine with automobile undercoating.

 

[Quartz]

Trouble is, the center is already decaying on the side trunk. Need to get that plugged to keep water and insects out of it. A small branch would heal itself over, but as big as that is, it would probably be best to use a tree coating on it. Clean out the center and plug it as best as possible. There are some paste products, not sure how expensive they are or how well they really work. Have seen light concrete used, but that is really not the best. I'm sure others will have a more reliable option for plugging the rotted area.

 

[Western]

Covering a "wound" on a tree is a old "wives' tale", better to let the tree heal itself with is natural defenses. If you coat it, you may prevent it from healing at all. Some woulds are not recoverable and that tree may already be on its last leg. I know the only thing my grandfather put on a cut was Listerine mixed with a little water.

Google it. I did since I know someone will say BS, but try it. Here is just one

""Research indicates that wound dressings (materials such as tar or paint) do not prevent decay and may even interfere with wound closure. Wound dressings can have the following detrimental effects:

Prevent drying and encourage fungal growth
Interfere with formation of wound wood or callus tissue
Inhibit compartmentalization
Possibly serve as a food source for pathogens""

Tree Wounds : Tree Care Kit - Texas AgriLife Extension Service

Here is another

""Although Shigo debunked the myth
of wound dressing decades ago, it still persists, particularly among
those with something to sell. A quick look at the
Internet revealed the following claims (I’ve left out
brand names, but they’re easy to find)""

http://puyallup.wsu.edu/~linda chalker-scott/horticultural myths_files/Myths/Wound sealer.pdf

Here is just one excerpt

 

[Pilot]

Western is right on.
But don't worry about the decay killing the tree, it won't do that. It is rotting dead wood. It will reduce the strength somewhat, but most of the strength is on the perimeter--think pipe or tube. A pipe is almost as strong as a rod.

 

[rekees4300]

But how do I keep water from filling up the rotted core of the stump.

Clean out the rotten core then fill the hole with hydraulic cement. After cement dries, cover cut surface with Tanglefoot Tree Sealer, the stuff works great!

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MWX1H0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[dave1949]

I have to agree with Western too. Trees know how to heal and seal themselves to a great extent. My guess is that cut side of the stump will just rot away eventually. I think I would have left more of it in place though compared to cutting so close to the trunk joint.

The remaining trunk may also already have some rot in it.

 

[HarryN]

Yes, just leave it alone.

 

[davesl708]

What Western said. Also, make sure the tree gets tree food, disease control treatment and water to give it the best chance to heal it's self. Trees get damaged by storms and recover.

 

[hslogger]

Tree wounds do not heal. The process is called compartmentalization. Trees have the ability to somewhat insulate, ie build tissue that will isolate the wound and keep it from the rest of the tree. This is a generalization. BIG wounds such as this, that are close to the main body are a hazard to the longevity of the three. This tree may well survive a long time, but this doesn't do it any good at all.

Aborists encourage removal of hazard trees next to buildings and have the owners replant something that is site specific, more friendly to the infrastructure in the area. Likely, if this is near a building, or sidewalk, or driveway, it has been compromised by root stress anyway. When you see trees uprooted near concrete, it is the invasion of the root structure that failed the tree. Painting this thing or putting tar on it won't do anygood but give you some visual false impression that you are doing good for it.

 

[Coyote machine]

It's hard to tell from the picture, but it looks like the leader was cut too close to the remaining trunk of the tree. It would have been better if the final cut allowed the trunk and cut to shed water/snow better by cutting close near the bottom of the cut and further away at the top so water, etc. would drain away from the hole and the wound. Tough to tell how far the cavity reaches into the trunk, but time will tell what the outcome will be. Did a pro make the cut, or did you do it yourself?

Upon further study of the Ash you modified to compliment your landscape, it appears this was a double trunk tree with a low crotch. Now you have a single trunk tree with a lean in the remaining trunk. Depending what the canopy shape is, the tree may be more likely to blow over in a storm due to the imbalance of only one trunk and the weight of the stalk and canopy now being more susceptible to wind exposure.
Can you click a few pics of the remaining tree, especially the canopy, and surrounding landscape; sheds, neighboring houses, etc. And give us a perspective of the trunk's lean over it's entire height?
It's possible you saved your house but may have doomed the tree to a need for complete takedown.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Is there a way to treat this wound in order to get the most life out of the remaining tree trunk? I had to take out one part of this twin-trunk tree since it was too close to the house.
I have always heard the you don't need to put on a cut sealer. But how do I keep water from filling up the rotted core of the stump.
Appreciate it.View attachment 408765

I've spent time learning and practicing arborist techniques. Don't spray undercoating on that wound: doing so will trap water coming up from the roots and rot out the truck killing the healthy tree. On this wound I suggest a bit of colored flashing to cover the entire wound, creasing the top edge to create a drip edge so that water will not run down the underside. Screw it in and caulk the top of the screws to make it water tight. Do not caulk the tree truck side.

Remind me to snap a photo of a birch I did this same thing to 10 years ago.

 

[Looking4new]

Remind me to snap a photo of a birch I did this same thing to 10 years ago.

Eric, here is your reminder.

 

[JeremyL]

Thanks everyone for the thoughtful and well-founded answers. I will use no wound dressing, and may drill a weep hole to keep water from collecting in the hollow.

The tree that was cut, leaving the stump with the hollow is the one with a light-colored bark to the right of the people in the photo. It is an oak.

Here is another shot of the hole.

And, as a bonus, what the house looks like when the leaves are out, July 2014. The trees and limbs were removed from the right, rear corner of the house. When my in-laws built the house 35 years ago it was on the edge of the woods, and the woods have been edging closer to it.

 

[murphy1244]

Is there a way to treat this wound in order to get the most life out of the remaining tree trunk? I had to take out one part of this twin-trunk tree since it was too close to the house.
I have always heard the you don't need to put on a cut sealer. But how do I keep water from filling up the rotted core of the stump.
Appreciate it.View attachment 408765

The trunk looks like you have the Emerald ash borer. Are those little holes in the trunk?? If so that tree is dead.

 

[dave1949]

The trunk looks like you have the Emerald ash borer. Are those little holes in the trunk?? If so that tree is dead.

I thought the OP said it is an oak, it looks like oak.

I think those holes are woodpecker testing picks.

 

[murphy1244]

I thought the OP said it is an oak, it looks like oak.

I think those holes are woodpecker testing picks.

Well then he don't have to worry about the emerald ash borer.:ashamed:

 

[JeremyL]

Yep, oak.
But we do now have Emerald Ash Borers in Kentucky.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Eric, here is your reminder.

This tree has two patches like this (the other is in a trunk 12 feet up). The tree is still healthy and growing ten years on.