You’re in the right place if you are curious about what to do with a rotting tree trunk.
Your tree’s trunk keeps its leafy canopy above and its sprawling roots below in the ground. It is what keeps it together. Basically, the trunk is the stem, and just like if a stem broke on a flower, it isn’t good if the trunk gets hurt or begins to rot. Many people wonder if they could take a chainsaw, cut out the rotten wood, and paint it over to help the tree survive. You’re in the right place if you are curious about what to do with a rotting tree trunk. Read on to learn more!
Is There Repair Treatment for Tree Trunk Rot? Could I Repair It?
First, we don’t recommend cutting off or sealing a rotting portion of your tree trunk. Cutting rotten wood will leave a plant vulnerable to more infections, which makes it even worse. This is because a tree can’t “heal” damaged tissue. They will try to seal them off and continue to grow. Plus, wound dressing, otherwise known as tree paint, does not close wounds or prevent the spread of any disease. It might hurt the tree more than help, which can then waste your time and money. Trying to cut out the problem would not solve anything because the issue is much deeper than that. Trees end up rotting because of a disease known as wood decay, which usually affects old, large specimens and infects the wood from the inside out. In a lot of cases, it’s hard, if not impossible, to treat the wood decay.
How a Certified Arborist Can Help with Tree Rotting
Rot can be a sign that your tree is weak and unstable. You want to know immediately if it is at risk for falling on your property, especially if you are in the middle of a storm or hurricane season. During the inspection, your arborist could talk to you about your many options. Those include:
- Leave it to Your Tree: If it is healthy and the decayed space is small, there is a chance that it will seal over the rotted wound as it naturally grows new wood.
- Consider PHC (plant health care): this is all about water, pruning, and fertilization. They can all do serious wonders to help extend the useful life of your plant. Also, take good care and try avoiding adding more injuries to your tree.
- Remove it for safety: if a trunk rot has gotten weaker to the point where it poses a real unacceptable risk to people or property, you need to get rid of it.
Tree Care and Maintenance from Harford Tree
Ready to have the beautiful yard you have always dreamed of? Harford Tree Experts & Landscaping, Inc has been in the business for decades, providing customers with quality work and quick responses all at the right price. We service the areas of Harford County, Baltimore County, and Baltimore City areas including Bel Air, Fallston, Perry Hall, Towson, Essex, Parkville, White Marsh and Middle River.
For service during business hours, reach out to us or give us a call at 410-592-7321. We offer 24/7 emergency service as well, just give us a call at 443-250-6649. For updates about our business and more informative tips, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.