Hi. I had guests over yesterday and one of the kids swung on quite a large branch on my fig tree and the branch snapped off. I've googled and found various ways to treat the exposed trunk and the damage. The tree is 3 years old. I'll go to King's tomorrow but wondering if anyone has any advice. Thanks! https://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/full/675
kindajojo,
Nov 14, 8:26am
Pruning paste and cover with glad wrap cut back any lose bark
quiz3,
Nov 14, 8:26am
KIngs may not be able to give you advice on behaviour of children and parents but I'm sure they will be on to it when it comes to repairing the tree. All the best.
misash,
Nov 14, 8:32am
Thank you! I'm a pretty useless gardener but this tree was nice and healthy up until now. Hope it survives its unpleasant injury!
misash,
Nov 14, 8:46am
Thank you. The tree had a a lot of fruit last year and I hope it can be rescued. The parents have offered to pay for anything I need to buy to repair it.
happychappy50,
Nov 14, 9:07am
As kindajojo has suggested,cut off the damaged branch where it broke then a another clean cut closer to the trunk,cover the last cut with a pruning paste,helps keep out moisture & bugs
misash,
Nov 14, 9:15am
Thanks! I just realised that part of the link to the photo was missing. https://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/full/675618318.jpg There's a large gouge where the branch snapped off and took part of the trunk with it. I'll buy the pruning paste in the morning and treat it.
happychappy50,
Nov 14, 9:22am
At this time of the year the sap is flowing outwards so even tho,it looks nasty it should recover if you follow due care . good luck btw a good petroleum jelly will work,used to use it a lot when grafting yrs ago
misash,
Nov 14, 11:28am
Would I still need to glad wrap it if I use petroleum jelly instead of the pruning paste?
lythande1,
Nov 14, 6:37pm
Pruning paste is a gardening myth. Just tidy up the break if it needs it and the tree will recover just fine.
jan2242,
Nov 14, 8:48pm
If your tree is anything like my neighbours it will survive anything. They have moved theres, hacked branches off, had truck smash in to it - it looks great!
aprilguy,
Nov 14, 9:22pm
I agree with #11, figs are fairly tough BUT warning about petroleum jelly, I killed one of my apple trees using it on the trunk to stop codling moth; both trees I put it on showed severe bark damage!
kindajojo,
Nov 14, 11:27pm
Its auckland, you just need something to stop the bugs boring in, they can eat out the middle and you lose the whole tree. just glad wrap will sweat so a paste of some sort works.
mggd,
Nov 14, 11:34pm
Our fig tree at the base of a retaining wall kept getting blown over, I got sick of picking it up and it became too heavy as it turned into quite a large tree, I put a strop around its base and winched it out of the ground and over the top of the retaining wall, cut off most of the branches and put it back in the ground in a better position and it is growing away quite happy so I think yours will be fine.
maclad,
Feb 14, 9:46am
This, pruning paste is very old school and as for Gladwrap, think that will cause even more problems by keeping area wet. Just pare back to clean smooth wood and leave it be.
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