Serious wind damage to a 200 year old Burr Oak - Ask Extension
We have an old burr oak (maybe 200 years old) that suffered serious damage in a wind storm about 2 weeks ago. A major branch (about 2 feet in diamete...
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Serious wind damage to a 200 year old Burr Oak #430384
Asked October 08, 2017, 1:31 PM EDT
We have an old burr oak (maybe 200 years old) that suffered serious damage in a wind storm about 2 weeks ago. A major branch (about 2 feet in diameter) was stripped from the tree leaving a scar about 10 feet high and 3 feet across. There was no root damage and about two thirds of the main trunk (which is about 3.5 feet in diameter) is still in tact. There is some rot in the core of the trunk (about 1 foot in diameter). We have been getting mixed messages about what, if anything, we should do. It was (and still is) a beautiful tree and we would hate to lose it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Bob Fulton<personal data hidden>
Stearns County Minnesota
Expert Response
You need a certified arborist out there ASAP. The tear can be cleaned up but I don't know about the actual health of the tree. A tree of that size is a valuable asset for your landscape. You can find an arborist by going to this website and clicking on Find An Arborist. You can put in your zip code: http://www.treesaregood.org/