Help. What to do with a split tree? What to put on the wound?

[Denidross]

With the very windy conditions last night my big tree has split and torn down the middle with 70% of the canopy down.  I still seem to have part of the trunk in place but with a big tear out of it.

should we just cut down the broken branches at the trunk and put some healing putty on the wound and hope it survives.

Yesterday it was a beautiful thriving tree, but today its wounded.

can you give me some advice.

Many thanks

[MitchellMc]

Hi @Denidross,

So sorry to hear about your tree. It's now heavily imbalanced and leaning solely to one side. The trunk is compromised to such an extent that although it might survive, it will always be at risk of falling. I'd suggest having an arborist come in and give their opinion. I suspect that they'll suggest that it needs to come out.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

[TheHandySqirrel · Accepted solution]

Hi @Denidross ,

I'm so sad to see that beautiful tree like that and feel your pain. Our front garden gevillea tree has lost two branches to storm and now also stands unbalanced, but it's a much smaller tree (maybe 4m) so I am taking the chance of waiting for it to recover. 

Yours however looks far more injured and dangerous should it split more. Arborists can be quite expensive, but I think in this case you might want (and need) a specialist assessment if the surviving tree is still safe. The last thing you want is it coming down in the next storm and crushing the shed or (worse) other people's property.

[Jewelleryrescue]

Hi @Denidross 

You can advise  better here as your with the tree and I am sorry to see it hurt I have my  favourite trees too but  from the  photos it looks like the branch that broke was the  off balance limb .  As far as i heard the sap from the tree is the best healing agent  a while back I would haves said  paint it with tar but is incorrect.

Any  way hope it recovers.

[EricL]

Hi @Denidross

I've read through some forums that it is sometimes better to leave the tree to heal itself. I suggest removing the broken piece but leaving the rest alone. Apparently, the tree heals through a method of compartmentalization isolating the damaged area. But it would be prudent to engage the services of an arborist so that you can get a good idea of the health of your tree.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric