Broken Japanese Maple

[victorytea]

My Japanese maple has some winter damage- one of the major crotchs is broken. There is enough wood left so that I could put it back in place and secure it somehow. ( it is not completely broken off). Would this be advisable or should I just cut it completely off and deal with a lop-sided Maple? The tree is about 6 ft. high right now and last year [it's third in my ground] it began to look really beautiful. Please help. I did not search the archives as I need to leave for work soon. Paul

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

It depends on how much of the vascular tissue has been torn.

I have used small rods to brace these kinds of damage.

Any competant arborist should be able to do it for you.

Where in NY are you, we have a number of members around state.

 

[treeman82]

Paul, I just did a repair like that a few months ago in Mahopac. It's still there, and if you want I would be more than willing to walk you through the process (with visual aids of course)

 

[Stumper]

Considering the small size of the tree, pruning the broken section off and training the new growth as it occursmay be the best course of action. A picture might help us advise.

 

[rbtree]

I too have repaired small splits such as you describe. Try a few small wood screws to tightly close the split. And some small string to support the upper branch, tied back to an appropriate anchor point. Padding may not be needed if the branch is small and the supoort will be removed in 1-2 years.

 

[victorytea]

John;
I live in Victory NY-30 miles north of Syracuse. Let me know if any arborists are near. Thank You Paul

 

[coffeecraver]

Here is a list that should help.


First Middle Last City State ZIP Phone E-mail Approx Dist
Stanley A. Dombroski Baldwinsville NY 13027 315-638-0345 4.2 miles
Thomas L. Mullarney Baldwinsville NY 13027 315-656-2323 [email protected] 4.2 miles
Stephen H. Ford Sterling NY 13156 315-947-5717 8.9 miles
A. Christopher Sandstrom Elbridge NY 13060 315-689-3288 [email protected] 10.4 miles
Fred L. Squires Skaneateles NY 13152 (315) 685-9180 [email protected] 15.5 miles
Michael B Madden Skaneateles NY 13152 (315) 673-2325 [email protected] 15.5 miles
Peter Csigi Liverpool NY 13090 315-457-1245 16.6 miles
Thomas D. Colaneri Solvay NY 13209 315-708-0181 16.7 miles
Todd Canterino Liverpool NY 13088 315-461-8016 [email protected] 20.0 miles
Matthew J. Elliott Seneca Falls NY 13148 (315) 568-5454 20.8 miles
Art Brooks Central Square NY 13036 315-676-7810 [email protected] 22.1 miles
Craig M. Allen Brewerton NY 13029 315-428-3469 [email protected] 22.8 miles
Brian C. Skinner Syracuse NY 13202 315-428-5987 [email protected] 23.3 miles
Terry L. Ettinger Syracuse NY 13210 315-471-5854 [email protected] 24.5 miles
Brian M. Liberti Syracuse NY 13210 (315) 473-4330 [email protected] 24.5 miles
Daniel P. Deyle Syracuse NY 13210 (315) 345-3594 24.5 miles
Ron Rogers Syracuse NY 13210 (315) 477-0124 [email protected] 24.5 miles
Michael Grimm Syracuse NY 13210 315-477-0124 [email protected] 24.5 miles
Jason A. Pieklik Syracuse NY 13206 315-463-9040 [email protected] 25.0 miles
Kenneth E. Finch Parish NY 13131 (315) 963-8964 26.7 miles
Kenneth L. Kirkman East Syracuse NY 13057 315-460-1570 [email protected] 27.2 miles
Michael Gorham East Syracuse NY 13057 (315) 656-2323 [email protected] 27.2 miles
John McCaffery East Syracuse NY 13057 27.2 miles
Thomas C. Tait East Syracuse NY 13057 315-656-2323 27.2 miles
Jerry A Bond Geneva NY 14456 315-585-9145 [email protected] 29.8 miles
James E. Coon Geneva NY 14456 716-526-7070 [email protected] 29.8 miles
Wayne Marshall Geneva NY 14456 315-781-3665 29.8 miles
David Knitter Phelps NY 14532 (315) 548-2075 [email protected] 31.5 miles
Leo R. Kamalsky Newark NY 14513 315/331-3897 33.7 miles
Andrew Pleninger Palmyra NY 14522 (315) 597-4448 [email protected] 35.4 miles
Marcella A. Micha-Mealey Palmyra NY 14522 315-524-8589 [email protected]

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

One way I have fixed small limbs is to use a thin gauge wire. I go two thirds of the way from the bad crotch, to the top of the tree, and drill a small hole through each side. The wire I have is some thin, uncoated stuff that comes in a spool from the hardware store. The drill bit is about the same size as the wire, around 1/16", I guess.
I pass the wire through the hole and tie a knot, then gently pull the cracked limb up to where it was, put the other end of the wire through and tie a knot. This should hold it in place and be almost invisable.
You could also use little tiny J screws like they sell at the hardware store and attach the wire to those, instead of drilling all the way through.

If it looks like the limb will not ever be self supporting, you can do what is called co-dominance subordination. The idea is to trim back the smaller (or less desirable) side. This can be done several times over the years. What happens is the part of the tree you trim will stay small as the other parts of the tree get larger and fill in where you have trimmed. Eventually the limb you are subordinating can be removed completely, without leaving a big hole.
AN arborist would be expensive for this little repair, so unless you have other stuff for him to do, take it on yourself.
Even add a picture if you want more detailed help.

 

[Guy Meilleur]

Originally posted by Mike Maas
AN arborist would be expensive for this little repair, so unless you have other stuff for him to do, take it on yourself.

Good advice from all, but every yard I've ever been in has "other stuff" that the tree owner would benefit from learning about. Find the best local person you can and take advantage of their knowledge to build on the contribution that trees make to your property's value.

 

[victorytea]

Thanks to all for your replies. I did call one of the arborists near here and he reiterated what most have already said-pull it together with a narrow bolt and some large washers. He didn't seem interested in doing the job so I think I will attempt it tomorrow. He was a nice fellow though. I don't have a digital camera so I cannot post pictures but I will let you know how it seemed to have went. Treeman, if you still want to send visual aids to do this job my E is [email protected]. Thanks again to all who have been so helpful. Paul

 

[victorytea]

No Luck

Well, I went out today and carefully shoveled around the broken branch to free it so I could pull it back. When I got the branch free I reached down and tried to pull it back together-it snapped right off. Maybe it had been that way longer than I suspect as it sure was brittle. I now have a concave hole where the branch once was. I suspect I should at least fill this with some wax but I will wait for advice from you guys before I do that. OH Well.
Paul

 

[DadF]

You don't know it but you are probably about to open another whole bag of worms with that last question
I would not put wax or anything else in it. Just use a very sharp knive and clean along the edges removing all of the loose splinters and getting down to solid wood. Then stand back and let the tree and mother nature do the old CODIT thing.
Good Luck!

 

[M.D. Vaden]

I like Guy M.'s comment.

It is true (unless there is only one tree) that where one tree for advice is, there are others. And it can be worth a short visit by an arborist from time to time.

 

[Guy Meilleur]

Re: No Luck

Originally posted by victorytea
I reached down and tried to pull it back together-it snapped right off. it sure was brittle.

That may have been Example #1 of Why Hire an Arborist. Those trees are VERY brittle; no one mentioned that in previous posts on this thread, but an arborist on site would have known s/he had to be very gentle. (I learned this the hard way with a client's Jm).:blush:

DadF's right about the wound thing, but there are right and wrong ways to trace bark. There are ways to guide your Jm back into symmetry which can't be explained online. If you value your trees, a regular visit from a pro is a good investment.