That’s just awful. Not having any expertise but can’t imagine this being balanced ever again, especially in a snow area.
That’s major stress to the tree, not a little branch snipped off
EqualAd9946
Time with tell, I’d give that a 50% chance? Maybe more since it has a second trunk?
10Kthoughtsperminute
Referring to the positions in the second photo:
Left trunk is a goner. I’d carefully remove it using relief cuts to prevent any further tear out.
Middle trunk is probably cooked too. If I were you I’d attempt to air layer it. It’s huge but on the off chance you’re successful it could produce another tree either for planting or bonsai.
Right trunk I would try to save. Once the air layer middle trunk is removed I’d make a clean cut and hope it heals up making the right trunk your new leader. It’s going to look wonky for a while as you reshape it but could be a fun project if you’re into that.
This advice is more bonsai based than arborist based, but if the consensus is the tree is done for you’ve got nothing to loose.
frogpainting
Nah probably won’t kill it any time soon. But, it’s definitely a significant wound that has a good chance of being a weak spot for the rest of its life unless it ends up compartmentalizing really well. If it’s not next to anything important I’d probably let it do its thing and hope for the best. Or you could cut your losses and replant a new one
brutus_the_bear
it’s going to have a different shape after that whole central leader is removed. If it’s not that top heavy you could leave it and monitor
Penrod_Pooch
This is a true story: About 10 years ago, my weeping Japanese maple split into three sections due to heavy snow load. I took the only tape I had, blue painters tape, and taped it together. A year later, I removed the tape. Today, you cannot tell where the split happened. The tree is now 8′ tall and 12′ feet wide and thrives. Do what you want but I’d give it a try.
jkrobinson1979
Sucks losing a Japanese maple that size, but I’d probably go ahead and remove the whole thing and plant another. It’s gonna be really awkward looking and weak even if it does survive.
Traditional_Emu_5326
I’d do what someone said above and try to put the piece back carefully without damaging the lower bark. Then tape the crap out of it, and secure with a strap or something. Make sure all the snow or ice is knocked off so it isn’t heavy. It’ll probably heal, if it doesn’t, you can always remove a branch later
jaxandmomma
We put ours back together with a bolt ,nut and washer . It worked amazingly everything lived and now like 8 years later the tree has swallowed the metal and you can’t tell. The rip is longer in yours though.
9 Comments
That’s just awful. Not having any expertise but can’t imagine this being balanced ever again, especially in a snow area.
That’s major stress to the tree, not a little branch snipped off
Time with tell, I’d give that a 50% chance? Maybe more since it has a second trunk?
Referring to the positions in the second photo:
Left trunk is a goner. I’d carefully remove it using relief cuts to prevent any further tear out.
Middle trunk is probably cooked too. If I were you I’d attempt to air layer it. It’s huge but on the off chance you’re successful it could produce another tree either for planting or bonsai.
Right trunk I would try to save. Once the air layer middle trunk is removed I’d make a clean cut and hope it heals up making the right trunk your new leader. It’s going to look wonky for a while as you reshape it but could be a fun project if you’re into that.
This advice is more bonsai based than arborist based, but if the consensus is the tree is done for you’ve got nothing to loose.
Nah probably won’t kill it any time soon. But, it’s definitely a significant wound that has a good chance of being a weak spot for the rest of its life unless it ends up compartmentalizing really well. If it’s not next to anything important I’d probably let it do its thing and hope for the best. Or you could cut your losses and replant a new one
it’s going to have a different shape after that whole central leader is removed. If it’s not that top heavy you could leave it and monitor
This is a true story: About 10 years ago, my weeping Japanese maple split into three sections due to heavy snow load. I took the only tape I had, blue painters tape, and taped it together. A year later, I removed the tape. Today, you cannot tell where the split happened. The tree is now 8′ tall and 12′ feet wide and thrives. Do what you want but I’d give it a try.
Sucks losing a Japanese maple that size, but I’d probably go ahead and remove the whole thing and plant another. It’s gonna be really awkward looking and weak even if it does survive.
I’d do what someone said above and try to put the piece back carefully without damaging the lower bark. Then tape the crap out of it, and secure with a strap or something. Make sure all the snow or ice is knocked off so it isn’t heavy. It’ll probably heal, if it doesn’t, you can always remove a branch later
We put ours back together with a bolt ,nut and washer . It worked amazingly everything lived and now like 8 years later the tree has swallowed the metal and you can’t tell. The rip is longer in yours though.