Blog | Tree Care Services

Property owners enjoy the appearance and benefits of beautiful, healthy trees, so when one tree becomes wounded, they want to fix the problem as soon as possible. From deep cuts to scrapes and broken limbs to rotting cavities, tree wounds require quick treatment from experienced tree service experts in Springfield, VA. Homeowners who know what causes tree wounds and how tree specialists treat them know what to expect should they discover a tree injury.

What Causes Wounds in Trees?

Whether it’s a tree trunk, branches, or roots, any part of your tree could become damaged due to natural causes or accidental damage by gardeners or homeowners. Some of the most common ways a tree wound occurs include:

• Fire
• Storms
• Insects
• Freezing
• Car Accidents
• Lightning Strikes
• Improper Pruning
• Unsafe Herbicides
• Mowing Equipment
• Construction Equipment

Sometimes these injuries can lead to other problems, such as inviting other wood-burrowing insects to move in or leaving the tree vulnerable to various diseases. However, in most cases, a tree can handle its own healing, responding to wounds with natural healing processes.

How Trees Respond to Wounds

Young, healthy trees recover from wounds much more easily than sick or older ones and, in many cases, heal themselves without owner intervention. Many homeowners don’t necessarily appreciate how a tree heals since it sometimes forms calluses that don’t have much cosmetic value. 

Through a process called compartmentalization, trees create a barrier around a wound with new growth that not only seals up the wound but also prevents any decay from spreading. The results often look less than appealing, but naturally healed trees tend to live longer healthier lives. 

Caring for Wounded Trees

If you choose to take care of a tree wound or hire a team of professional arborists to do it for you, many methods exist to help a tree recover. Some of the most common ways that you can address a tree injury include:

Filling a Cavity

Trees can develop deep cavities thanks to invading insects or certain tree diseases. Many homeowners believe that they can help the tree heal by filling the cavity with concrete or other substances, not realizing that they cause more injury by doing so. If left alone, a tree can usually heal its own cavity, though you can still see the hole despite the healing.

Dressing a Wound

Homeowners who want to fix their tree up as soon as possible may try to dress the tree with gauze, bandages, and other human treatment methods. However, tree wound dressing can often worsen the problem, contributing to further drying out or excessive moisture. An artificially sealed tree wound can also lead to further decay, making it more dangerous to dress a tree than it is to let it heal on its own.

Sealing a Cut

In the case of accidentally pruning a tree too closely and creating cuts, some tree owners turn to petroleum-based pruning paints. However, tree experts like to wait and see if the tree can heal its own cut before applying wound dressings like pruning sealers.

Preventing Future Tree Wounds

Tree wound prevention starts by utilizing proper pruning and mindfulness during yard work. Ensure you don’t run your lawn mower over exposed tree roots, and carefully cut above the tree collar when pruning out tree branches. With careful consideration and patience, you can safely work around your trees.

Let the Professionals Treat Your Wounded Tree in Springfield, VA

The best way to safely treat tree wounds is by working with an expert tree service. When you need help with a wounded tree or want sick tree treatment, call the experts at G&V in Springfield, VA, at (703) 337-3080.