Cutting a pear tree - all tree surgeons please help!!

[darrenh]

My builder cut a large arm of my tree tree in June to make may for an extension - he did this using no science and simply cut it with a chain saw.

The 'stump' area is not becoming exposed as the bark rots away - it does not look healthy at all.

I imagine he should have capped it off or something ... anyway.

How can I cut this or save it so it doesn't kill the tree - is there some sort of wax/sealer that tree surgeons use to do this.

Am I best re-cutting the stump and sealing?

The tree already is a little distressed so I don't want to put it through too much stress.

 

[Thermo]

do NOT put anything over the wound. This will only seal in any disease and will help spread it through the tree. time is the best healer, the tree will recover. Give the tree a good feed of an all round fertiliser, dug in around it. That will help it recover and fight off any possible disease. What signs of distress is it showing?

Thermo

 

[darrenh]

Distress: the side with the 'cut' has dropped its leaves 2 weeks earlier than the other!

 

[Thermo]

Thats because the tree is diverting attention to healing that area. It should recover. Mother nature is a wonderful thing, but it may take a bit of time, but DONT DONT DONT cover the wound

Thermo

 

[LindaLancaster]

Did he leave a big stump? Ideally, branches should be cut off flush with the 'collar' whcih is a slightly thickened ring at the base of the branch. If it is cut there, the stump can heal over more quickly. If he left a big bit sticking out, I would suggest sawing it off closer to the trunk, but only if you can see the 'collar' - it is possible to go too far.

Oh, and I agree, don't paint it with anything!

Love and compost
Linda

 

[darrenh]

A foot long stump and the bark is slowly rotting away down to the base - so shall I cut it back to the main tree or just leave it like suggested earlier?

 

[Thermo]

cut it back as described by linda