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Mahk

ArboristSite Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2002
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Location
Roswell, Georgia
Does anyone have any experience using a foam filler for a cavity? We have a 54 inch oak that lost a large lead/side branch on a fairly calm day (summer branch drop). Prior to the failure of the limb the trunk appeared to be solid except for a small cavity about 50 feet off the ground where the trunk split into several upright leads. The branch that fell was only about 15 - 20 feet off the ground. There is now an 8 foot hole in the trunk where that branch had been attached. It is now obvious that the entire trunk is hollow, from ground level up to the cavity at 50 feet.

The tree is on a golf course that is currently under construction. The developer would like to save the tree because it is the back-drop for one of the greens. If the tree is retained it could easily be roped or fenced off (with signs) to keep people from going under it, so it would not present a hazard unless someone ignored the signs and fence. The developer has asked about covering the hole for aesthetic reasons. The idea would not be to fill the cavity, but simply to close up the hole. Any thoughts on this?

Also, there is a 'twin' branch on the other side of the trunk, slightly higher than the one that fell, that would be reduced in size to lessen the chance of that failing as well (although we realize that the tree will eventually fall apart).

Thanks for any input.

Mahk
 
Mahk,

A friend of mine had a client who was insistant on filling a cavity. He first stuffed in wadding and then used foam. The finish was with Bondo, auto body filler. In short order, the tree rats had dug into the filler and made ugly holes. He decided to never do that again.

I would think that chicken wire covered with newspapers or plastic sheeting would be easy wadding.

CAn the foam fillers be smoothed enough to make a nice looking surface? Do they break down when the tree sways? There must be some kind of filler that becomes more rubbery and less like styrofoam.

Keep us posted,

Tom
 
I have seen foam used a number of times. Unfortunately it always seems to look awful in a year or 2. If the aim is purely aesthetic why not simply cover the hole with a fitted piece/pieces of wood? Go ahead and leave a hole or three for the squirrels and birds to use for ingress/egress.
 
I would suggest to the developer to hve that area maintained as heavy rough/no-play along with the fencing and signage. Have a course rule that the get a free drop outside the fence if the overshoot the green.

Maybe have it planted with tall savannah grasses and flower??

Anyhow, I've seen similar results with foam fillers. though i think you can get different colors now, they do tend to fade and get nasty. I seem to have heard of one that was marketed as a rodent repelant, they don't like chewing on it. Cannot find a refferance, home improvement stores may know.
 
I would suggest using chicken wire as a stuffer to keep the foam where it needs to be. Also that wire will hopefully keep the squirrels and other migrant rodents from taking up residence there. Put the foam over the wire, let it fully expand and dry. Bring up some spray paint and do the best you can to blend the foam in.
 
Originally posted by Mike Maas
No, put down some of that rotten seaweed and fish guts. The smell will keep the golfers out and the micro nutients will make it "seal" up real fast.:D

Or we could have mike prance around in his tinker bell costume sprinkling fireplace fairy dust that will really draw a crowd HEE Hee ~ Harr Harrr :D :D
 
Originally posted by SilverBlue
Or we could have mike prance around in his tinker bell costume sprinkling fireplace fairy dust that will really draw a crowd HEE Hee ~ Harr Harrr :D :D

Now that was an unwanted thought, a scrawny gray-haired man in pink spandex!
 
1) Foam looks like crud in short order.
2) It invites further decay.
3) It does nada to aid strength.
4) You can post warning signs from the tree to the clubhouse, but if some tard gets hurt, the golf course is STILL liable. It's their tree, their property, and that's the way some liberal civil-suit jury will see it when said tard gets hurt and sues for some ridiculous 7 digit damages.


I agree with MB on this one... cut the ???? thing and re-plant. Why risk it.

From the sounds of it, the tree isn't going to last very much longer anyways.

JMHO
 
Originally posted by John Paul Sanborn
Now that was an unwanted thought, a scrawny gray-haired man in pink spandex!

Are you nuts? The tree will uproot and follow the golfers off the property too!:D
 
Though I have never tried any foam to fill any hole in a tree, if you still want to fill the hole, you might try a lower expansion foam like pond foam instead of something like the "Great Stuff". The pond foam is usually black, and will probably hold up better because of what use it is made for, though I can't say for sure.

Try a garden pond retailer, or do a search online for pond supplies.


Dan
 
We used to use window screening- one piece just inside the hole, fill with foam another sheet on the entrance to the hole. I have wasted many a can of foam into "endless" cavities.:D
 
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