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Laburnum split trunk
Rory 2
Posts: 5
Hi, I have moved to a new house which has a very large Laburnum (15 meters tall) in the front garden. I removed a branch which was dead just before Christmas leaving all other limbs looking healthy. I have a problem that one of the major limbs has snapped off at the trunk tearing down some of the bark of the main trunk (about 2 feet of bark stripped back). Will the tree survive this or will it have to be removed before the rot sets in? any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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Has the tear gone into the wood of the main trunk or is it only affecting the bark?
Only experience I have of a main trunk splitting was a Magnolia grandiflora which was about 7' tall at the time, we bound it together with a lot of ladies's tights, we managed to do it straight away and tree was fine.
Hi Joe_the_ Gardener, thanks for contacting me. It is a pretty big limb, the first to come off the trunk and has basically come away where it was attached it the trunk so the main wood of the trunk is exposed. It is still hanging on by a bit of wood and the bark that has peeled down the trunk a bit and is resting on a near by holly that is taking its weight. if the tree will survive I will remove the limb but if it's a goner I will get someone in to remove the whole tree. I don't think tights are going to do it but thanks anyway KEF.
I may be able to attach one tomorrow if I can figure out how.
To post a pic click on the green tree icon on the toolbar above where you type your post and follow the instructions.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
See what you mean Rory, the Magnolia was far less mature. Hope you don't have to remove it.
Looks as though you will end up with an unbalanced-looking tree when you remove this branch. The exposed interior of the trunk might not be an immediate problem - laburnums seem to survive all sorts of disasters.
I'd remove the damaged limb and give it a go. You can always remove it at a later date, but don't rush to cut the whole thing down as you can't stick it back if you change your mind. As my dear late mother would have said " act in haste: repent at leisure"