I don't know how it happened, kids? maybe the wind? It seems to be getting worse as time goes on. Do you think it'll continue to grow and get stronger as the trunk gets wider or is there anything I can do to help it?
by s1owpokerodriguez
I don't know how it happened, kids? maybe the wind? It seems to be getting worse as time goes on. Do you think it'll continue to grow and get stronger as the trunk gets wider or is there anything I can do to help it?
by s1owpokerodriguez
8 Comments
Get a new one.
Cut below split and pollard for all time
Not in this economy.
I’m not an arborist or even close to one but can you take a piece from above the split and graft it into the split or just below it?
Trees don’t have finances. Wait!! Is that a money tree!!??
Prune below the split. It will be fine in the long run.
Well, it’s a K-shaped economy so turn it sideways and the top split will thrive while the bottom split will eat dirt.
This is definitely something to address and will only get worse, not better.
What you’re seeing is a tight V-shaped union with included bark, which is one of the most common structural defects in young trees. Instead of forming a strong connection, the two stems have trapped bark between them, so the wood never actually fuses together. It will just continue to split itself apart.
As both stems grow and put on weight, that seam becomes a failure point (it looks like it already is), especially in wind or storms. These are the splits you see later where a tree just peels apart.
I’d structural prune the one on the right completely off so tree develops a single dominant trunk.
**Quick rule of thumb:**
* U-shaped union = Unbreakable.
* V-shaped with bark in the middle = Vulnerable.