I have a customer with a Crimson King Maple that has a weeping hole in the trunk. The tree is 10 yrs old and otherwise in good health. Any Ideas?
It's a very fine tree. My advice FWIW is to cut around the wound to clean bark, and if necessary scrap the wound of any gunk. It may bleed a little more until the sap stops running, but will dry out soon enough hopefully and start to heal. Pulverize the area with a weak bleach solution. Don't paint the area with anything after the surgery. Be helpful Michael! :) -E
Hi Emery - Acer platanoides is a listed invasive species in most of the USA, and causes serious ecological problems with displacing native forest species there. So it's not a good tree to grow in the USA. It makes sense to remove it, rather than trying to save it to spread yet more seeds around. Ron B has often pointed out that it is invading several areas in Washington, no doubt he'll add a note here later.
Sure, I know that Michael. And I wouldn't recommend it for a new planting. (Not that I know either where Sequim is, or what the climate is like.) But surely you wouldn't expect a professional to recommend that their client cut down an established tree even if it is (or may be) inappropriate. I'm not saying we shouldn't educate people if they don't know about it, but this poster asked what he should tell his client.
Easy to look up where Sequim is ;-) Actually, yes I would expect a professional to recommend that their client cut down an established tree, if said tree additionally has a cavity with decay in the trunk as well as being an invasive species - the cost of the remedial action to save it and make it safe isn't worthwhile, given its low value as a invasive species and future safety risks. Cheaper to remove it while it's still reasonably small, and replace with something new.
