I have a maple tree near me that some kids broke over about a foot off the ground..it is about 12 ft high and?

Question

I taped it up with duct tape two years ago to fix and changed the tape last year. It is very green on top, but when I took the tape off the crack is still there. It is like an arm hanging down (ie the crack goes upwards). I could re-tape it, but is there something better or I am just putting off a long agonizing death for it?

trunk is about 3 inches in diameter...it is a very tall and lanky tree...very top-heavy...

Answer 1

I take it this is a fairly young tree, at that age the tree can heal from such a wound and fully recover. What is the circumference of the trunk at the wound? I'd guess about 12 inches? At that small I'd not seal or wrap the wound at all but instead would give the tree support with 'tri-pod' guy wires from about 5 ft to stakes. This keeps the wound from expanding during windy periods and doesn't restrict the tree from naturally sealing off the wound (like paints etc do). Leaving the wound open also makes it easier to inspect for any insects, fungus or disease that may attempt to colonize the wound and keeps it dry since it can breathe.

That's the most common method of saving young trees down on the Gulf Coast where storms are notorious for causing this kind of damage.

I know certified Foresters are expensive, but check with your cities Parks Dept. for free advice from someone local to your area! You can also use this link to consult with a Master Gardener in your area (they better not charge for the help)
http://www.ahs.org/master_gardeners/index.htm

Edit:

A 3inch trunk is well within the size range where guy wire is effective! You'll want some old garden hose or tire inner tubes (to keep the bark from getting wire cuts), 3 or 4 pieces of either sturdy wood or rebar approx. 2-3 ft long, and enough good wire or rope to run between the stakes and the tree.

The idea is to duplicate the angle that you see used with antenna towers. Where the rope crosses the trunk either feed it through the old hose or wrap the trunk a little loosely with rubber (the rope or wire will hold it in place). I prefer to make a big loop of wire or rope and 'hook' it over the stake as opposed to making a 'noose' around the trunk and stake (seems to give better support). Also when you hammer the stakes into the ground don't put them straight into the ground, instead angle them in so that the tip in the ground is closer to the tree than the top of the stake that you loop the rope around (they'll hold better).

After a few growning seasons when the tree gets to 5-6 inches (or more) there will be enough good, solid wood that you can un-stake the tree; by that point the wound should also be fully healed.

Answer 2

Hard to say. The tree being green after 2 years is a positive sign. However I would say that depending how you're taping it, you could be allowing water to pool in the tree's wound which wouldn't be good for it. You could get all kinds of mold, fungus, or bacteria growing there which could potentially kill the tree.

The best thing to do would be to seal it off with something, even a coat of spray paint works. Whenever we remove tree branches, we always coat the then exposed part of the tree.

To secure the tree itself, instead of using ducttape use something like rope or chain instead. If you have an old garden hose, that works well because it doesn't work it's way into the tree very easily.

Hope that helps.

Answer 3

I'd tape it back up, but they do make tape for trees so you don't have to use duct tape. You should be able to find some at a good nursery. If it made it this long, the tree should be OK, just give it another year or two of support.

Answer 4

It will never be strong and will break off later. Also it is more suseptible to bugs which seem to know when a tree is stressed. BEtter you yank and plant.

Answer 5

I'm sorry, but your wasting your time, yes you are prolonging its death.