Heard a guy at the nursery call a tree wound dressing 'tree band-aids' and it clicked

I was picking up some bare root stock yesterday and overheard a customer asking about sealing a big pruning cut, and the nursery worker just said 'those tree band-aids don't really help it heal, they just make us feel better.' I'd always been taught to use the stuff, but now I'm second guessing. What's the real deal on wound dressings for big cuts over 3 inches?

3 comments

3 Comments

karenc2012d ago

Yeah, @david134 nailed it, right?

david13412d ago

That "make us feel better" line is spot on. It's like putting a bandage on a cut that needs air. The tree already has its own system for sealing wounds, it just takes time. Slapping tar or paint on there can trap moisture and rot, which is worse than leaving it alone. I've seen big old cuts on oaks that healed fine with just a clean edge and some years. The dressing mostly just makes the cut look neat to people walking by.

jesse_lopez1412d ago

But doesn't that trapped moisture argument depend on the climate? In super dry places, a sealant might actually prevent cracking while it closes up.