Need some arborist help

[SuperSteeler]

Bought a house last fall and we have a tree in the yard that has a pretty big split in it. It looks like someone put a silver paint on the scar but it has pretty much all fallen off. My questions are:

What is the paint?

Can I save the tree? And do I need to cut the split branch to do so? I'll try to attach some pictures of the tree in question.

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[DJW]

Could you fasten chains higher up the trunk to stop the branches from levering away? Years ago there was a very large walnut tree, supposed to be over 600 years old (never knew they lived that long) and that had bands and chains fastened to support each other. Hopefully someone with experience can help you. Parks department probably could give you ideas.

 

[AMink]

I'll show it to our horticulturist at work tomorrow. My guess is a chain would work for a while, but eventually the tree would girdle itself.

 

[Sled Puller]

If its close to your truck, take it down now. Its history, regardless.



I know for a fact that dog chains installed circa 1950 do NOT hold a big sugar maple together.

 

[AMink]

What is happening is the tree was damaged (obviously) and now has bark growing on both sides. As the tree grows, the bark gets thicker, pushing one side against the other causing further splitting. Options are a) cut the smaller side off further down than the obvious fork. The bark will seperate. b) Cut down the tree. It won't ever look right or grow right.



Information from our Horticulturist at the park where I work.

 

[SuperSteeler]

I suspected cutting the smaller side would be required. Once I do that do I need to put something on the exposed portion, like that silver stuff or some sort of tar?

 

[AMink]

We don't usually put anything on pruning cuts, but with something that size you might want to look at the local nursery and see what they have. If nothing else, you can smear white glue (Elmer's) all over it. That will form a temporary skin until the tree can "build" it's own defense. From there, the barks will eventually cover over the wound.

 

[SuperSteeler]

Thanks for the advice. I'll check with a local nursery about something to put on it when I make the cut.