Kids broke my tree

Chris__

Good morning All,
We have a beautiful 2 yr old golden Maple tree about 10ft tall. We have just gotten through the first Winter and it has just started to bud. While I was watching the footy grand final yesterday, my boys pushed and pulled it over and it has split right down the middle. We have taped it up tightly with grafting tape (then used the rest on my boys!!!) and given it a dose of Seasol. Is there anything else that we can do and are we likely to save the tree.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated, Congratulations to all the Geelong supporters, it was a sensational match. Next year go the Crows!!

Eric Frei

Tanunda SA!

Hey, I lived in Lyndoch for a lil while, nice place the Barossa.

See if you can get some pictures up, also I think bolting together with stainless steel would be better long term as tightly bound taping can restrict vascular flow not to mention block lenticils.

__________________

Chris__

It is a stunning area, re the bolt, the tree is only as thick as my thumb, how would you go about putting a bolt through it, would an arborist do it? how much would they charge me, can you recommend one in the Barossa
Cheers
Chris

Eric Frei

Maybe 1/8" dia threaded screw 2" long, simply cut off any excess sticking out past the nut and file off so not sharp.

You drill straight through, little washer (both ends have a washer) and nut and tighten lightly. Do not etch out bark for washer, do not overtighten. The tree will grow over it eventually and in many many years time when the tree gets cut down some poor bloke might hit it with his chainsaw.

Perhaps one every 9" or so of damaged trunk.

__________________

olyman

its only two years old??? me thinks id take it out and start over. why??? because if it split--was it growing as a forked tree already??? if so--that tree is always going to be weak there... i was taught to keep the center stem growing straight up, and the tree would always be strong, and branches would naturally grow off to the sides---giving a strong and straight center--

Apocalypsse

And if it doesnt hit the saw then the chipper will cop it guud.

ejrea

Seems to me that a trunk that small will be damaged more by drilling and bolting than the original split! I am surprised that that sort of method is being reccomended, as when I did my training 20 years ago bolting of trees was actively discouraged because of the physical damage to the tree and potential for insect and disease entry. Is everything old new again?

If you don't want to replace the tree maybe taping with grafting tape would be the go. If the trunk is as thick as your thumb, then grafting tape would be fine.

Therrin

Look around a little on this forum, there's alot of info you might find interesting if your facts and techniques are 20 years old.

Eric Frei

Oh great, I love it when people wrap trees up like some embalmed Egyption Mummy, more work for me later.

__________________

ejrea

Not wanting to point out the obvious, but grafting tape is used when you graft a branch from one tree onto another. It is very light weight and degrades over time, hardly mummy type bandaging. If it works for grafting, and has done for many many years, then I don't see why it wouldn't work on a trunk that is the thicknesss of your thumb!

ejrea

And sorry, you will never convince me that bolting a tree is good management. The reasons why it was considered bad management in the first place still hold true in my opinion.

Eric Frei

Some-ones got an open mind.

You are going to cable a tree that shows signs of failure (already cracking), what would you do?

You have to install a flying fox how will you do it?

You need to install a swing, how will you do it?

You are installing a high level walk, how will you do it?

Do you have any evidence of a tree dying from bolting? I have never ever seen one dying from bolting.

__________________

Bruce Hopf

I'll just sit back, and enjoy some , and learn as I go here. So far, intresting stuff here. Bruce.

__________________
McCulloch chain saws
1- Pro Mac 60, 1- Pro Mac 700, 2- Mac 10-10 Automatic's, 2- Mini Mac 30's, 2- Mac 110's,
2- Mini Mac 35's, 1- Mac 140 with Automatic Chain Sharpener,
1- Pro Mac 10-10, 1- Mac Cat, 2- Eager Beaver
2.0's, 1- Mac 1-10
Stihl chain saws
2- 044's, 2- 034's, 2- 024's, 1- 064, 1- 084,
Strunk chain saws
1- Busy Beaver, 1- SpeeDemon Special
Stand Back, I Have A Very Extreme Case of CAD (Chain Saw Addiction Disorder).

Therrin

I had this mental picture, Ekka, when they typed that, of some big oak that was swathed in something akin to duct tape. Thousands of feet of it... in order to keep from having to bolt/cable it.

Tilia

square cut below all of the damage to allow to shoot up, then train a new leader.