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Started By
Message
Satsuma Tree help, split amongst the the top most branch..
Posted on 12/8/19 at 2:26 pm
Posted on 12/8/19 at 2:26 pm
I was in the backyard this afternoon and looking over my oldest satsuma tree, when I noticed at the very top/most vertical growing branch that there was a split right in the middle of where it branches into two branches.
I picked all of the fruit off last month and it was not there before when I did so and I did not notice it was split about two weeks ago when I last looked at it.
I went ahead and pulled the joint back together and then wrapped with electrical tape, hoping it will graft itself back together. I also further secured the "V" with zip ties so it can't pull further apart. One of the branches that splits off at the joint is really long and is the heavier of the two.
Off of that branch I do have new growth growing out it's side. I'm thinking about lopping off the most of the heavier branch a couple of inches above the new growth to alleviate some of the pull weight on the split.
Doing so however would remove the top most part of the tree and I would be hoping that the new growth becomes the new "main" growth.
Is my approach even correct for this situation? I just bought the property last year and discovered it had a Satsuma tree in the back.
I'm fairly new to messing with citrus and this was the only thing I can think of? Anyone have any tips on what I should do different or do additionally to address the split? I would consider it's location part of the main growth of the tree and I'd like to keep it from getting worse.
I picked all of the fruit off last month and it was not there before when I did so and I did not notice it was split about two weeks ago when I last looked at it.
I went ahead and pulled the joint back together and then wrapped with electrical tape, hoping it will graft itself back together. I also further secured the "V" with zip ties so it can't pull further apart. One of the branches that splits off at the joint is really long and is the heavier of the two.
Off of that branch I do have new growth growing out it's side. I'm thinking about lopping off the most of the heavier branch a couple of inches above the new growth to alleviate some of the pull weight on the split.
Doing so however would remove the top most part of the tree and I would be hoping that the new growth becomes the new "main" growth.
Is my approach even correct for this situation? I just bought the property last year and discovered it had a Satsuma tree in the back.
I'm fairly new to messing with citrus and this was the only thing I can think of? Anyone have any tips on what I should do different or do additionally to address the split? I would consider it's location part of the main growth of the tree and I'd like to keep it from getting worse.
2
Posted on 12/8/19 at 3:04 pm to BayouBengal51
Take a wood fence board and cut a v in one end to use as a prop. Use as many as needed to prop up the downstream end of split branch. Do not prune. Should continue to produce for years. I would only prune if branch obviously died.
Posted on 12/8/19 at 3:10 pm to Popths
TY. As far as what I've done with the split, taping it back together, leave it as is? It split in half literally at the joint between the two branches. I held the halves back together and wrapped with tape to keep them fused.
Posted on 12/8/19 at 6:56 pm to BayouBengal51
Get rid of the tape. It will just collect water and promote fungus/rot setting into the split wound. Prop up the heavier branch with a stick or board as described above. Let the tree heal itself, or not. Tree will scab over the split as needed, or if the damage is too bad, it will route it’s resources elsewhere and let the non-viable branch wither away. Next spring, it will likely throw off new growth just below the split.
With trees, be patient. Don’t try to intervene too much—the tree will recover as it’s resources and health allow. Fertilize it at the correct times with a citrus optimized mix (bag will suggest when you should fertilize. Keep grass from growing under it at least as far out as the width of the branches.
With trees, be patient. Don’t try to intervene too much—the tree will recover as it’s resources and health allow. Fertilize it at the correct times with a citrus optimized mix (bag will suggest when you should fertilize. Keep grass from growing under it at least as far out as the width of the branches.
This post was edited on 12/8/19 at 10:08 pm
Posted on 12/8/19 at 7:14 pm to BayouBengal51
Can you run a big screw through the split to pull it back together?
Posted on 12/8/19 at 9:47 pm to 82fumanchu
No screws nor tape. You’ll be surprised how much that branch will produce with so little connected.
Posted on 12/9/19 at 7:52 am to 82fumanchu
quote:
Can you run a big screw through the split to pull it back together?
Yes, I could if I had too. However the zip tie situation I have going further up the split is keeping it pressed together well.
I'll remove the tape this evening when I get home from work. Thank's guys.
Posted on 12/9/19 at 9:14 am to BayouBengal51
Don't screw into the living wood--you'll just aggravate the injury. Even if the lead/upper branch splits and dies back, the tree will throw up a new leader branch, eventually. Should the split heal, it may break anyway, later on, when it gets loaded w/fruit and weather gets windy. Tree limbs break, trees recover by sending out new growth. Don't try too hard to preserve what the tree cannot support structurally.
Posted on 12/10/19 at 8:48 am to hungryone
quote:
Even if the lead/upper branch splits and dies back, the tree will throw up a new leader branch, eventually. Should the split heal, it may break anyway, later on, when it gets loaded w/fruit and weather gets windy. Tree limbs break, trees recover by sending out new growth. Don't try too hard to preserve what the tree cannot support structurally.
Though a picture of the problem branch split would help, the comment above is factual and I’d follow this advice. Without seeing a pic, I’d be inclined to suggest you remove one or both of the branches where the split occurred. A new leader will emerge to replace what you removed. The split area will always be weak and will likely ultimately break in the future when loaded with fruit. Removing the damaged area is not going to harm the tree. I’d suspect in a year or 2 you won’t even notice the area where you removed the damaged branch(s).
This post was edited on 12/10/19 at 3:18 pm
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