In the attached photo, you will see a trunk wrapping on a cork bark chinese elm. This tree suffered damage from a borer with a previous owner (around five years ago). I have had it for the last three years. The other owner had sharied the trunk where the borer did it's damage. The shari is a substantial part (70
of the lower half of the trunk. The live area is mostly in the back, and in one spot the cambium is only about 1.5 wide. Last year another borer made an unwelcome visit, but I caught him early and sent him to pergatory via chemical deployment. Still, he was able to kill the main branch and I noticed that the bark is flaking off the trunk.
Because of this I decided to try a trunk wrap treatment. I scored the live "rolling area" that is covering the scar with a sharp knife and applied a small amount of coarse sphagnum moss at the cuts. Next I wrapped it with a material used on horses legs. It is similar to an ace bandage, but is somewhat "stretchy" and kind of self-adhesive. If you ever gave blood, it's the stuff they use to hold on the gauze when your done. Anyway, it's bright green, so I covered it with a standard tree wrap to tone down the color. Irregardless, the appearance is of no concern, I want to save the tree. It's my hope that this treatment will induce quicker growth of bark and help to expand the area of live cambium. BTW, don't look at the branch structure as "set". It will be changed and ramified when the tree has recovered.
Before anyone says it, I realize the possibility of an air-layer (inadvertent) exists, but if it does occur, I will use it as an excuse to lose the lower area. I really believe this tree will struggle this year if I don't do something. In the pic, you will see a set of standard 8-9" shears for scale. the tree is in the large class.
Has anyone had experience with this treatment? I am open to suggestions.
Thanks for your time,
John