North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[RW Spalinger <rwspal@earthlink.net>]

On Sep 9, 2004, at 10:42 AM, Doc Lisenby wrote:

> <x-tad-smaller>Just watched a program on the tube about a PHD who researched tree damage and said that damaged trees don't heal in the strict sense of our understanding of the word.</x-tad-smaller><x-tad-smaller>..</x-tad-smaller><x-tad-smaller>I'd have to agree that the advise to just trim out splinters and hopefully the tree will take care of the problem.  Reminds me of "doctoring" wherein we go through all the ceremonies with lotions, potions,  seeds in gourds shakings and praying and the body responds to very little, if at all, to anything except the innate intelligence programmed into it.</x-tad-smaller>
> <x-tad-smaller>Doc Lisenby
> </x-tad-smaller>

I've had some luck fixing trees with trunks about 1.5" in diameter and less, that have been broken or torn. I've taped up the trunk to hold it together and staked it to reduce movement in the wind. After about three months I remove the rubber tape and retape it, using less taping if possible. In some cases the area will callous and "heal" or at least new tissue grows around the area. There's a big lump that remains, but the trees sometimes survive.

Randall Spalinger