Print This Page

Tree Trunk Goop - Newsletter


Tree Trunk Goop

 

When pruning cuts are made on trees, I usually don’t recommend pruning paint or wound dressing. There is considerable research and data showing that this procedure is more detrimental than helpful. Pruning cuts usually heal faster and more correctly if cuts are left exposed to the air to heal naturally.

 

However, when tree trunks or limbs are damaged by equipment, animals (such as mice, rats, squirrels, beavers, porcupines, sapsuckers, deer) or other factors, using what I call "Tree Trunk Goop" is in order.

 

The extent of damage here requires tree trunk goop
 
Mix the dry ingredients in water to make a slurry to spread on damaged woody plant.
No cover or wrap needed. 

 

 

Though the years I have recommended four different formulas. The first was equal amounts of diatomaceous earth, soft rock phosphate and compost mixed with water to make a thick slurry. Slathering this wet mix onto scrapes, cuts, borer holes, ripped places by animals or other injuries on trunks or limbs did a remarkable job of protecting the plants and helping heal the damage. This and the other early recipes tended to wash off over time by rain and/or irrigation. In the soil, the mix makes a good organic fertilizer, but reapplication to the wounds was advised until wounds were totally healed.

 


  Tree trunk goop dried in place

 


The injured Japanese maple with Tree Trunk Goop

 
"After" - tree healed in just months after treatment with compost, kaolin clay and Azomite.

 

The second formula was similar but used equal amounts of compost and Azomite. In both formulas, fine textured, high quality compost seems to work best.

 

The third formula was better - equal amounts of good compost, Azomite and kaolin clay – with water added, of course. Kaolin clay is available from pottery supply companies and in commercial products such as Surround WP and others. Kaolin clay helps hold the materials on the damaged area longer and is thus more effective.

 


Bark damage on tree limb
Tree Trunk Goop slathered over damaged bark

 

The fourth and latest formula seems to be the best, since the latex paint in it holds the mixture on the trunk or limb until the new growth pushes it off. Also because of the sand in the mix, animals that may have caused the damage in the first place are kept at bay. Adding Garrett Juice to any of the mixtures helps the feeding and healing of the wounds.

 

Minor wounds and wounds going only partially around tree trunks heal easily with this technique. Trees totally girdled are more difficult to save. I didn't think it was possible before, but now I do. For total girdling, the wound needs to be treated with the Goop, and then burlap, or some other fabric, needs to be soaked in the Goop and then wrapped all the way around the damaged area. Tin foil and/or plastic can be wrapped around the burlap to help hold the moisture in the mixture. Some arborists like to use roofing felt as a wrap. Keeping the wound moist with the Goop is the key to having the bark bridge across the wound and save the tree – or any other woody plant.

 

I still don't recommend wound dressings such as tar and black paint products because they do more damage than good. But the Tree Trunk Goop mixture is different. It feeds the tree through the wounded area and helps damaged areas callus over from the edges of the wounds and heal quickly and thoroughly.

 

If normal wound dressing must be used, for whatever reason – in oak wilt areas for example, the product called Lac Balsam is the best on the market. It stays soft and resilient and allows at least some air to reach the wound. In a pinch, shellac or latex paint can be used but never over the edges of the wounds. Unlike Tree Trunk Goop, these materials will interfere with the callusing and healing of the wound edges.

 

Options for Making Tree Trunk Goop Versions

  1. Fine compost, natural diatomaceous earth and rock phosphate. Mix equal amounts of DE, rock phosphate and compost into enough water to make a thick muddy slurry. Fireplace ashes can be used if rock phosphate is unavailable. Add 2 oz. (jiggers) of Garrett Juice concentrate per gallon of mix. Apply by hand or with a brush and reapply if washed off by rain or irrigation.
  2. Fine compost and Azomite. Mix equal amounts of each into enough water to make thick slurry. Earthworm castings are a good choice of compost here and the coarse textured Azomite is best for this use. Add 2 oz. (jiggers) of Garrett Juice concentrate per gallon of mix. Apply by hand or with a brush and reapply if washed off by rain or irrigation.
  3. Fine compost, Azomite and Kaolin clay. Mix equal amounts of the three ingredients into enough water to make a thick slurry. Granular Azomite is the best choice in this case. Add 2 oz. (jiggers) of Garrett Juice concentrate per gallon of mix. Apply by hand or with a brush and reapply if washed off by rain or irrigation although it won’t be needed as often with this recipe due to the addition of kaolin clay.
  4. Fine compost, Azomite, lava sand and latex paint. Divide a gallon of latex paint in half using a second container. Into each half add a cup of fine compost, cup of Azomite, 5 -10 oz. (jiggers) of lava sand and 1 - 2 oz. of Garrett Juice concentrate. For cosmetics, buy paint that matches the color of the bark. Apply by with a brush. Reapplication will rarely ever be needed due to the addition of paint.

 

 

 

  Search Library Topics      Search Newspaper Columns