I have a large atlas pine tree in my back yard and last night two big branches fell off. Is there anything I can put on the tree’s wounds that will help it heal faster?
Well, there’s a bit of a debate about this. Used to be that when a tree was pruned, tree ‘paint’ was put on to seal it. Now, some say that this traps bad stuff in, which can lead to rot and/or scarring. I’d say to prune it as close to the trunk as you can and leave it be. I’ll check with my dad, the landscaper/horticulturalist this evening and get back to you.
They’ve gt the stuff you describe at OSH, but I’m a little nervous about adding more chemicals tot he yard. I read that you can preserve tree cuttings in honey before you graft them, can you run that idea past your dad as well?
Thanks!
Here’s my take on this: Use a saw and/or chisel to make sure the wound won’t hold rain water. This will deter rot. Apply a little fungicide to the wound itself. Apply a balanced fertilizer to the ground around the tree to help the tree’s own resistance to bugs and rot. If you get rain in the first two weeks, reapply the fungicide. After that, nothing.