Big limb broke off of a 24″ Post Oak and did a Humpty Dumpty on one of our bird-baths last night. Got a huge hole in the trunk that I THINK needs to be plugged, but I’m no arborist. Figgering some hardware cloth or stucco mesh fastened with some SS screws, 2-3 coats of stiff mortar might do the trick. Gotta trim and smooth the hole up too. That bird-bath was right where I shoot at the 60 yard target on my archery range. I would have been a ruined Robin-Hood.
Thanks for any advice ya’ll could give.
Replies
I can't tell, but if that is hollow that remaining limb needs to be removed.
From everything that I have heard anykind of patching or sealing is just a place to trap water and rot.
Clean it back and more than just a saw. Use chissels to get back to solid wood and so that the wound can drain and let nature take over.
William the Geezer, the sequel to Billy the Kid - Shoe
I'm gonna wait 'till fall and trim the other limb back about 50%. Just thought if I could water-proof the hole, then it wouldn't rot.
Like Bill said, plugging/filling just promtes rot but by the looks of that tree, a lot has already been promoted. I wouldn't get your hopes too high on saving it.
You do understand that this tree is best used for firewood, don't you?
Any attempts to repair it come at the cost of delaying the growth of the new tree that will replace it.
These Oaks drop limbs like this all the time. Even when they're solid. I'd like to have it around as long as possible before it dies, which they do frequently. I've lost 8 PO's 24-40" in the last 15 years, and don't want to lose any more.
I love PO and Mesquite for smoking meat, and I'll get plenty out of this one...to add to my other 3 cords....