I have some green wood sealer distributed by Choice Woods in Lousiville KY. I have a renter who trimmed some bradford pear trees quite a bit (2-3") branches. I havn't cut them that much this late in the year before. Usually try to catch them in early spring. I remember Grandpa painting them with something but I don't know what it was. Thought maybe someone here had tried it. Thanks in advance Lyndell
Slightly O.T. Green wood sealer for live trees?
May 22, 2006
5 Replies
Apparently this practice is no longer used. Tree heals over pruning, even pretty severe pruning, with less damage if it's allowed to do so without interference.
Right. You are better off without a sealer. So say the experts.
Hi Lyndell, I've tarred & feathered broken tree limbs too, but after the hurricanes damaged so many trees here, all local arborists and foresters nixed that. The big No-No now is about people ruining and shortening the life of healthy trees by excessive trimming and by shaping and topping. Some weird shaped foliage surrounds the mcMansions, but I reckon not for long.
Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter
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The biggest problem is the limb should be cut as close as possible to the trunk without damage to the bark. If the smallest stump is left then the tree will not cover the end with new bark and eventually water and insects will get in the wound and the tree suffers major damage. So the practice evolved of putting a sealer on the bare stump end as a protective coating after several years. This was altered to putting sealer on immediately the pruning was done thinking it would stop the tree bleeding sap. If the pruning is done as tightly as possible to the main trunk the bleeding sap will promote new bark growth and seal the wound completely.
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