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Can This Leaning Tree Be Saved?

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Leaning tree and truck damaged

I recently received a couple of pictures of a customer’s damaged tree from one of our franchise owners. He was asking if there was anything that can be done to save the tree. As you can see from the pictures above, it is leaning a great deal. You can also see some trunk damage on one side of the tree, the side to which the tree was leaning. When I saw the tree damage, I knew right away that there was nothing that could be done to help this tree. In fact, it would be better to have the tree cut down as the chance of it coming down with a strong wind increased almost each day that passes. Unfortunately there is a large trunk wound on the side to which the tree is leaning. There is a good deal of decay seen within the damaged area. As the tree continues to grow, it is leaning due to the loss of internal structure on that side of the tree. The damage on this tree happened a long time ago. It could have occurred when the tree was first planted. There is no way of knowing at this point. A tree can lose up to 70% of its internal or heart wood and still stay standing upright, although it is more susceptible to getting blown over with high winds. You cannot heal a tree that has been damaged. They will seal the damaged area and grow new callus tissue in an effort to close the wound, but if it is a large, gaping wound, such as what is seen in this picture, it may not be able to effectively seal off the damage from wood decaying organisms. Using pruning paint or tar does little to keep out insects or fungi and may even prevent the natural sealing process of the tree. Some people try to fill the cavity with concrete, but often times, if not completed correctly, could cause more harm than good. It is an expensive process and generally not recommended. If the leaning tree is a specimen tree or a favorite tree that needs to be saved, the best thing to do is contact a licensed arborist to provide the best plan to save the tree. In the case of this tree, there really is only one solution: cut it down. Learn more about… Tree Maintenance & Damage How to Fertilize Trees & Shrubs Tree Watering Tips Landscape Damage from Deer