Trunk Wrap

John Dixon

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

Attached Images

cork bark elm trunk wrap small.jpg (64.0 KB, 141 views)

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John Dixon

Si vis pacem parabellum

Stay off the trails of others, that's where the booby-traps are.

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John Dixon

This picture shows the tree when the borer killed the primary branch last year. It shows the shari for perspective.

Attached Images

cork bark elm 2003 small.jpg (51.4 KB, 144 views)

__________________
John Dixon

Si vis pacem parabellum

Stay off the trails of others, that's where the booby-traps are.

susieq

John, I have no answer, but do have a question......what is a borer? I am assuming it is a nasty insect of some kind? I have a few cork barks and want to know what to watch for. Although I spray things fairly often, I don't ususally spray my cork barks or the other elms either, because nothing has ever bothered them.
But here in Florida, the bugs are as bad as anywhere in the USA and if you have this thing, we probably have it too...... Is it a large insect? A tiny hard to see thing or what? What should I watch for. Thank you for you help.
Susieq

John Dixon

Susieq,

The quick answer is an insect that actually gouges its way into the trunk. If you ever see a round hole going into the trunk, you've got a borer. Luckily, malathion, sevin, and other all-around pesticides seem to do the trick. I was so mad at the little varmint I let him have a chemical cocktail (several types)!!! Have you ever seen the holes "bumble bees" make in wood? It's a very similar round hole, but in my case, less than .25 inches in diameter.
I think elms are no more prone for attack than any other species, but for some reason, they like this tree (maybe the dead wood).

Just keep an eye out for the holes. I've never caught one "in the act" of making the entry.

John

__________________
John Dixon

Si vis pacem parabellum

Stay off the trails of others, that's where the booby-traps are.