Deadwood Pruning Exposes Voids

[JBuchanan]

I removed several dead branches from a tree that owner wants to keep for many years to come. The standard final cuts are all at sharp angles and will therefore shed water well ... except for two (on same main limb) which exposed voids (dia of each ~ 1/2 limb dia). I believe each needs a "roof" or "hat" to shed precipitation and also allow venting so condensation does not build. Any thoughts / vid links / products come to mind? Something factory painted to the hue of a dead tree limb would be great. Maybe TAMKO Thunderstorm Grey with charcoal soffit?

 

[schemer]

http://www.todayshomeowner.com/treating-cut-tree-limbs-with-wound-paint/

 

[BC WetCoast]

Don't worry about making the cuts specifically to shed water, it won't make a difference. The tree differentiates between branch wood and trunk wood in the trunk. When the branch is pruned (either naturally through the branch dying and breaking off or through pruning), the tree naturally compartmentalizes the wound and prevents the spread of fugus through the tree (bacteria is not a concern).

Trees have difficulty compartmentalizing large pruning cuts 8"+. You should avoid those if possible.

 

[ATH]

http://www.todayshomeowner.com/treating-cut-tree-limbs-with-wound-paint/

The comments are hilarious.

Article: "Wound paint does no good".
Questions (in comment's section): "My tree ______________ should I use wound paint for this?"

NO. (unless you are pruning red oak during the growing season...but a better solution is to not prune red oak during the growing season. Any other situation: NO, don't use wound paint!!!)

 

[jayk]

Don't worry about making the cuts specifically to shed water, it won't make a difference. The tree differentiates between branch wood and trunk wood in the trunk. When the branch is pruned (either naturally through the branch dying and breaking off or through pruning), the tree naturally compartmentalizes the wound and prevents the spread of fugus through the tree (bacteria is not a concern).

Trees have difficulty compartmentalizing large pruning cuts 8"+. You should avoid those if possible.

I agree regarding the angle of cuts and shedding water, it makes no difference. The important thing to remember is correct target pruning to the branch collar. The great thing about removing dead wood is that the branch collar is often more pronounced in anticipation of natural branch shedding by the tree. This can be a great guide to the position of the final pruning cut.

Bacteria can be a concern depending on the species of tree and time of year. Fireblight (Erwinia amylovora) for example is a bacterium which can enter the tree via injured tissues, including pruning wounds until they are occluded.

 

[ropensaddle]

I removed several dead branches from a tree that owner wants to keep for many years to come. The standard final cuts are all at sharp angles and will therefore shed water well ... except for two (on same main limb) which exposed voids (dia of each ~ 1/2 limb dia). I believe each needs a "roof" or "hat" to shed precipitation and also allow venting so condensation does not build. Any thoughts / vid links / products come to mind? Something factory painted to the hue of a dead tree limb would be great. Maybe TAMKO Thunderstorm Grey with charcoal soffit?

What size cuts are we talking about and is the void or hollow walled off? Decay will occur to the wall regardless of waters presence one day maybe science will create a way to fill cavities

 

[jayk]

What size cuts are we talking about and is the void or hollow walled off? Decay will occur to the wall regardless of waters presence one day maybe science will create a way to fill cavities

Research I've read suggests that constantly water filled cavities or pockets may slow the rate of decay due to the water logged and anaerobic conditions. The industry has certainly progressed from the days of drilling cavities to remove water and filling them with concrete blocks!

 

[Jed1124]

Research I've read suggests that constantly water filled cavities or pockets may slow the rate of decay due to the water logged and anaerobic conditions. The industry has certainly progressed from the days of drilling cavities to remove water and filling them with concrete blocks!

Absolutely. Water in a cavity will slow the rate of decay. I wonder though how the bacterial activity in that water effects a tree if at all.

 

[treesmith]

Worst thing you can do is drill a cavity to let the water out

Read Shigo and google CODIT. Trees have natural boundary protection zones, cuts should be made specifically in relation to collars and branch bark ridges. Don't cut the collar but cut to it

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

 

[ropensaddle]

Research I've read suggests that constantly water filled cavities or pockets may slow the rate of decay due to the water logged and anaerobic conditions. The industry has certainly progressed from the days of drilling cavities to remove water and filling them with concrete blocks!

Well yes i have cut into concrete filled cavities but I was referring to possible futuristic replacement of heart and sapwood concoction