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My Rowan Tree is Rotting Down One Side - What to Do?

lizmaclizmac Posts: 77
in Problem solving
Hi Fellow Gardeners,
Has anyone any idea what I can do about this Rowan Tree.  I had a patio built and I think some roots were cut.  One side of the tree looks quite healthy but the right hand side has dead branches and the bark on the main trunk of that side is rotting.  I have pruned out most of the dead wood - should I take more away and is there anything I can do with the bark on the trunk?
I love this tree and so do the birds so I don't want to cut it down.

Posts

  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    I would leave it alone, no need to prune anymore. The bark has opened up and unfortunately, there is not much you can do, and I'm sure a bit or root pruning or disturbance when the patio was laid will not have changed anything. It may well be on its way out. It does look like an old tree.
  • nultyphilip224nultyphilip224 Posts: 923
    I had a similar problem over five years ago with a Spanish Bayonet Tree,..after reading that Kew Gardens had a similar problem with its oldest tree a Pagoda,..which they filled in a section of the trunk and it was a success.

    You can remove all of the dead wood but be careful not to damage the living wood.
    Then fill the hole with Spray Foam,..make the surface smooth so rain will roll away.
    Once the foam has hardened paint over the foam area,..as unprotected foam breaks down from sunlight.

    glengarry23 - YouTube
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I have the same problem with a beloved, large elder tree. A tree surgeon advised me to leave it and keep an eye.
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