Kneejerk Bombas
ArboristSite King
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2001
- Messages
- 36,971
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The Seer is talking about the soil being piled up too high on the trunk. Look at a tree growing in the forest, it will have a nice flare as the tree enters the ground. This tree looks like a telephone pole going straight into he ground.
There is nothing to do to the wound that is known to help, although that doesn't stop people from making things up, so in the absence of evidence it's best to let nature take it's course.
The one thing that we do know, is it will help to improve the health of the tree. Number one is to carefully remove the soil back down to the original grade.
Then, you could try to improve the soil by aerating with a core aerator and spreading some compost around.
It would also help to create a nice chip bed out to a few feet past the drip line of the tree.
If you know the soil pH and it's high or low, adjust that.
Water during dry periods.
Find a puff ball mushroom, bring it to the tree, and set it on the windward side of the new chipbed.
Do not remove any foliage from the tree. Leaves make food for the tree, keep every leaf.
Resist the temptation to fill the cavity or to poke around in it.
Don't put bug spray, paint, or anything else on or around the wound.
Do not fertilize the tree unless the soil has been tested, then only apply what is deficient.
The hole may look like it's the end of the world for the tree, but if the tree is kept reasonably healthy, it will grow over the wound and completely close up. This will take time. Water will go in the hole, along with ants and other insects. Silver Maples are fast growing. They add wood at an amazing rate, and what you can't see is the tree has set up physical and chemical barriers to stop the rot from spreading into the rest of the tree. These barriers can break down if the tree is overly mature or highly stressed, but with a little care this young tree should outlast you and your customer.
There is nothing to do to the wound that is known to help, although that doesn't stop people from making things up, so in the absence of evidence it's best to let nature take it's course.
The one thing that we do know, is it will help to improve the health of the tree. Number one is to carefully remove the soil back down to the original grade.
Then, you could try to improve the soil by aerating with a core aerator and spreading some compost around.
It would also help to create a nice chip bed out to a few feet past the drip line of the tree.
If you know the soil pH and it's high or low, adjust that.
Water during dry periods.
Find a puff ball mushroom, bring it to the tree, and set it on the windward side of the new chipbed.
Do not remove any foliage from the tree. Leaves make food for the tree, keep every leaf.
Resist the temptation to fill the cavity or to poke around in it.
Don't put bug spray, paint, or anything else on or around the wound.
Do not fertilize the tree unless the soil has been tested, then only apply what is deficient.
The hole may look like it's the end of the world for the tree, but if the tree is kept reasonably healthy, it will grow over the wound and completely close up. This will take time. Water will go in the hole, along with ants and other insects. Silver Maples are fast growing. They add wood at an amazing rate, and what you can't see is the tree has set up physical and chemical barriers to stop the rot from spreading into the rest of the tree. These barriers can break down if the tree is overly mature or highly stressed, but with a little care this young tree should outlast you and your customer.
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