Trees holding water

[memphisscott]

I have a 50-70 ft. oak tree in my front yard that needs pruning. I've gotten several estimates, and two of the guys seem to really know what they are talking about. They have given me two different opinions about one specific thing. My tree has an indention where the trunk splits into the main branches. Both guys agree that it's holding water. One guy says there's nothing you can really do, and one guy says he can cut a notch in it to allow the water to flow out. Which guy is right?

 

[Rftreeman]

don't let someone go cutting a "notch" to drain water.......

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Cutting a drain is not the way to go.
There is no clear evidence that water in a tree cavity is either good, bad, or indifferent. In treating the wound, arborist are really treating the client, giving him peace of mind that he has done his best to "cure" the tree.
There have been many ideas used over the years to treat cavities. I think filling it with something, is about the best (other than leaving it alone, of course).
In the old days there was quite a market in filling holes with concrete. The down side is it's heavy, hard to mix and install, it's not flexable (trees sway), and dulls your saw if you ever cut into it.
A modern version is Great Stuff, insulating foam crack and hole filler. You can spray it in, and after it bulges out and drys, you can cut it off flush with a saw and paint it with pruning paint for a nice look.

On the same topic, I see a lot of little decorations placed into tree cavities. I see owls, chipmunks, and others, but for some reason the little troll or elf is most popular.

 

[GlenWimpy]

I live in Memphis , let me come look at it! Give me a call today , and I can come by after Church , and after the Titans lose at 3:00!

http://glenstreeservice.net/home.html

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

I live in Memphis , let me come look at it! Give me a call today , and I can come by after Church , and after the Titans lose at 3:00!

http://glenstreeservice.net/home.html

How do you treat tree cavities?

 

[treeseer]

Both guys are wrong--cutting is dumb because the cuts will grow new tissue, and you CAN do something--buy a little hand pump and empty it after rains.

 

[M.D. Vaden]

Both guys are wrong--cutting is dumb because the cuts will grow new tissue, and you CAN do something--buy a little hand pump and empty it after rains.

Guy ... arent' you are supposed to fill it with a can of expanding foam insulation GOOD STUFF. LOL

 

[Bermie]

Filling with foam just displaces some of the water, there will always be water and damp trapped behind it, you can never make a watertight seal...so what's the point?

I reckon to leave it alone, that's my take on water filled, or compost filled cavities, as long as the cavity is not a major structural defect with all THOSE attendant risk issues.

 

[Plasmech]

Filling with foam just displaces some of the water, there will always be water and damp trapped behind it, you can never make a watertight seal...so what's the point?

I reckon to leave it alone, that's my take on water filled, or compost filled cavities, as long as the cavity is not a major structural defect with all THOSE attendant risk issues.

Yea the other thing about foam is that it's going to be a freakin' condominium complex for all sorts of bacteria and bugs and ####. I would clean out the rot if any is present and let it breathe. Trees manage to grow in swamps and on stream edges with no problem...

 

[Rftreeman]

my tree is not fat, it just retains water.............duh huh.......

 

[Bermie]

my tree is not fat, it just retains water.............duh huh.......

Ah ha, ah ha ha...honey, does this tree make me look fat???
No sweetie, just take it easy on the foam...:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[memphisscott]

Both guys are wrong--cutting is dumb because the cuts will grow new tissue, and you CAN do something--buy a little hand pump and empty it after rains.

The problem with that is that the indention is almost twenty ft. up. Like I said, it's where the main branches split off from the trunk. The indention faces upward, like a bowl.

 

[Rftreeman]

The problem with that is that the indention is almost twenty ft. up. Like I said, it's where the main branches split off from the trunk. The indention faces upward, like a bowl.

i have a very large willow oak that does the same thing and I'm sure it has been doing longer than I've been living so I wouldn't worry about it to much, those guys are trying to sell you a service you most likely don't need...

 

[GlenWimpy]

The problem with that is that the indention is almost twenty ft. up. Like I said, it's where the main branches split off from the trunk. The indention faces upward, like a bowl.

Scott

I sent you a PM. I live in Memphis also , and can come by and look at your tree.

http://glenstreeservice.net/home.html

 

[Rftreeman]

get a ladder, climb up and dip the water out with a cup, problem solved......

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

get a ladder, climb up and dip the water out with a cup, problem solved......

Will he do this each and every time it rains?
Why is the water a problem?

 

[treeseer]

Why is the water a problem?

No point going further until this is answered.

Hint--there is no answer!

 

[GlenWimpy]

Here is the answer!


You CANNOT leave the water in the tree! It will continue to rot , and make a bigger hole for more water! Plus , when the temp gets below 32 , it will freeze , expand and make the tree split! DO NOT stick your hand in the whole with a cup to dip the water out! SNAKES , SPIDERS , and all kind of unfriendly objects/living beings tend to live in these areas!

1 cut a small groove up wards to let water drain out
2 let area dry for a week if no rain
3 spray area with pruning spray
4 FILL WITH FOAM , YOU HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE
5 spray again with pruning spray!

:monkey:

 

[Rftreeman]

Will he do this each and every time it rains?
Why is the water a problem?

that's up to him but I was beeing sarcastic......

Here is the answer!


You CANNOT leave the water in the tree! It will continue to rot , and make a bigger hole for more water! Plus , when the temp gets below 32 , it will freeze , expand and make the tree split! DO NOT stick your hand in the whole with a cup to dip the water out! SNAKES , SPIDERS , and all kind of unfriendly objects/living beings tend to live in these areas!

1 cut a small groove up wards to let water drain out
2 let area dry for a week if no rain
3 spray area with pruning spray
4 FILL WITH FOAM , YOU HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE
5 spray again with pruning spray!

:monkey:

you can't be serious.........

There's not a hole in the side of the tree, he's talking about a crotch holding water and you can leave it there, I have a very large willow that holds water the same way and has been for gods knows how long, the tree was here first and the house was built in 1951......

 

[GlenWimpy]

that's up to him but I was beeing sarcastic......

you can't be serious.........

There's not a hole in the side of the tree, he's talking about a crotch holding water and you can leave it there, I have a very large willow that holds water the same way and has been for gods knows how long, the tree was here first and the house was built in 1951......

I'm talking about a CAVITY/HOLE not a crotch!

I understand the OP says crotch , but the thread has turned into a new direction!