if you are broke and cant afford to replace it the tree will likely continue to live for another year, another 5 years, maybe another 20 who knows.
if you have the money to replace it, why not? it is a tree in your landscape producing ornamental value for you and if the damage is un-aesthetic then why not replace it.
Tom_Marvolo_Tomato
That wound in the trunk is many years old. Pictures 2-4 show great rolls of callus tissue (wound response wood) trying to close off the wound, which is a Good Thing. Yes, there is almost certainly some decay in the exposed trunk, but I don’t see anything that makes me think this tree is at high probability of failing. I would take steps to protect the trunk so continued damage doesn’t occur (mulch around the base to keep mowers away).
Also consider: if the tree does fail, is it going to land on anything valuable? If it’s not going to hit a house, it’s not going to be a big deal.
2 Comments
couple different ways to think about this.
if you are broke and cant afford to replace it the tree will likely continue to live for another year, another 5 years, maybe another 20 who knows.
if you have the money to replace it, why not? it is a tree in your landscape producing ornamental value for you and if the damage is un-aesthetic then why not replace it.
That wound in the trunk is many years old. Pictures 2-4 show great rolls of callus tissue (wound response wood) trying to close off the wound, which is a Good Thing. Yes, there is almost certainly some decay in the exposed trunk, but I don’t see anything that makes me think this tree is at high probability of failing. I would take steps to protect the trunk so continued damage doesn’t occur (mulch around the base to keep mowers away).
Also consider: if the tree does fail, is it going to land on anything valuable? If it’s not going to hit a house, it’s not going to be a big deal.