Large tree branch down/? treat the 'wound'?

[rebelrn2001]

Storm last night took down a large limb, part of the "Y" of a tree. I'd say at least 2 sq feet of the tree inside will be exposed when we get done cleaning it up. Do I need to put something on it to protect the rest of the tree still standing? Tried to attach a pic but couldn't figure out how... Thanks

[hogridnfool]

Google- treating tree wounds, 70,900,000 results.

[ffishman]

They USED to sell a liquid to cover something like this. Haven't seen it in many years, but that is not to say, they don't sell it. Painting this on, helped keep disease and bugs from entering the tree. Check out your local dealer.

[yarcraft91]

Yes, you want to treat the wound in the tree. There is a tree wound paint called Treekote available at garden supply stores.

[mac]

Yes, there is something kind of like a thin tar that I use. Need to seal it up or in time, the wood may rot.

More important however is to not get in this situation again. Don't let trees have a Y branch as one of the main branchings. It will almost always break when the tree is older. Any branches should be at almost a right angle to the main stem.

[Chad]

Do some searching but I think even latex paint will work. You just want to protect the wound from the diseases and insects. Kind of like a bandaid

[yarcraft91]

Yes, latex paint will also work. It is just not as robust as a tree wound paint (which is more like a thin tar), nor as likely to provide protection with a single application. If the tree is bleeding sap, it will likely require more than one application of latex paint to make an effective barrier against insects.

I've used tree wound paints for years to seal up fruit trees after pruning off large branches and repairing storm damage. That would be my first choice, but in a pinch the latex paint will do.