Knowledgebase
Damage and Swelling on Locust Tree #203457
Asked July 30, 2014, 1:12 PM EDT
Hello,
In August 2013, I contacted your office concerning a Shade Master Honey Locust tree we had purchased early that spring. I noticed sap oozing from the base and some of the trimmed branches on the trunk. Alexis A. from your office told me that the tree had developed Thyronectria canker.
This spring, the initial leaves had wilted, and a severe hail storm had knocked most of them off. I began feeding it every three weeks to see if it would come back. Well, as you can see from the first picture, it has.
Now the problem is that the trunk has developed a wound and swelling at one of the old branch sites. The two photos show the front and back of the damage.
Is there anything that I can do to heal or mitigate any more damage?
Sincerely,
Steve Beatty, Denver
Denver County Colorado
Expert Response
swelling looks like there is a lot of "woundwood" forming there, an attempt by the tree to seal over or cover a wound.
You might try to carefully remove the reddish brown dead tissue with a sharp knife; spray blade with Lysol before use and between cuts made-
using knife like a scalpel, shallowly cut into red-brown tissue at the edge; avoid cutting. into green tissue.Remove as much reddish dead tissue as possible without cutting into green tissue. After this "minor surgery", spray the exposed area with any fungicide. Repeat spray 3-4X in the next 12 months.
While the new growth is a good sign, you'll want to discontinue fertilizing the tree now so the honeylocust can start hardening newest growth before winter.
