You had a beautiful tree in your garden that provided the much-needed shade, cooling, and improved air quality.
The tree also greatly enhanced the aesthetics of your property. Unfortunately, winter storms came and caused massive damage to it.
Indeed, the tree broke in half; can you save it? Here’s what you need to know.
Is The Tree Worth Saving The Tree?
Our environment would look terrible without trees. Thus, saving them is always worth it.
However, there are some instances where removing the tree is the best option. When determining if a damaged tree is worth saving, consider factors such as:
The age and species
Growing location
Any sentimental value the tree may possess
The value the tree adds to your property
If the broken tree is not worth saving, remove it as soon as possible. If you don’t remove it and death occurs, the tree could become a danger to you and its surroundings.
Warning
Removal of hazardous trees is too risky to work for the average person.
The work requires special tree removal equipment and sophisticated techniques, which only a professional tree removal service provider has.
Leave the job to an expert to ensure safety and avoid the destruction of property.
Can I Save A Tree That Broke In Half?
Yes. But, not all trees can come back from extreme trauma like breaking in half. It mainly depends on the tree species (type) and the protection you give to the wound.
A successful recovery also depends on the conditions under which your tree has to recover.
If a tree breaks in half, then the top with all or most branches is affected. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that it will die.
With time, new shoots can develop to compensate for the lost food-producing foliage.
Deeper roots may also develop fast enough to supply the nutrients the tree requires to recover.
And with the best care, your broken tree can produce fresh branches, leaves, and the entire canopy.
The top can grow back if you provide the tree with the appropriate care and nutrition.
Indeed, you might not even need to wait for long; the canopy can develop back within two years – depending on the tree species.
Why Removing A Tree That Broke In Half The Best Option?
If a tree breaks in half, it will likely die off. Many tree species cannot deal with the trauma of losing their branches and leaves (food-producing parts).
When a tree breaks in half, it becomes exposed to rotting, pest attacks, and diseases, which can be impossible to overcome.
Therefore, removing such a tree is often the best decision. Indeed, here’s why an arborist will recommend it:
It Leads To A Hazardous Tree
Saving a tree that broke in half can be an ingredient for disaster. Why?
You’ll have a weaker tree on your property that is more prone to damage.
After the traumatic breaking, the tree loses all of its food-processing parts.
So, it gets into an emergency where new shoots quickly develop to reimburse for the loss as quickly as possible.
That leads to fragile branches that are more likely to fall off and cause damage to property and the surrounding.
Increased Risk Of Tree Death
When a tree breaks in half, it gets injured and loses the ability to produce food properly. Thus, it essentially starts to starve and eventually dies off.
Breaking in half also means the tree is left with a significant wound. The tree may be unable to close this wound fast and effectively enough.
Therefore, it’s exposed to rotting, diseases, and pest attacks.
It’s Expensive To Maintain The Tree
If a tree breaks in half, it experiences significant damage and has less chance of surviving. First, the wood needs proper protection to keep disease and pests away.
The tree will also be more susceptible to rotting if you don’t protect the wood well.
Second, you must ensure that you provide favorable conditions for the tree to undergo a successful recovery.
That includes applying fertilizers to provide the nutrients it needs for better and quicker roots and canopy development.
All of these can be very costly for you. That’s especially true if you don’t have the knowledge or resources to hire an arborist.
Also, the tree might require up to 2 years before it recovers its shape. You may not commit to all that.
Reduced Aesthetic Appeal
Having a tree broken in half can ruin the beauty of your property.
The traumatic breaking robs the tree of its natural beauty, and the part of the tree that’s left becomes an eyesore.
It can create a wrong impression of your home to visitors and even lower the market value of your property.
That can be a significant loss if you have plans to sell the home in the future.
Reduced Tree Lifespan
Even if your tree overcomes the trauma of breaking in half, this extreme damage will impact its lifespan.
The tree will have a shorter lifespan than it would have had if it did not break.
Sometimes saving such a tree will likely cost you time and money. It would be better to remove it and plant a new tree in the same spot if you need it.
Deciding To Save A Tree Broken In Half
You may have decided to save the tree based on the above factors.
In that case, the next question is; can you repair the tree damage yourself, or should you seek professional help? Well, looking for an arborist might be the best move.
Why Hire A Professional To Remove A Tree?
A significant storm or hurricane repair will undoubtedly require using a chainsaw and tree climbing equipment.
It also requires substantial skills and experience using this equipment properly to ensure safety and success. You probably don’t have any of these.
So, leave the work to a reputable tree service company.
Professionals are skilled and licensed. Hiring a professional is also critical because you’ll not be liable if an accident happens. A reliable tree removal service has skilled personnel that will do clean work. The service provider also has licenses against any misfortune which can occur during the job. For example, a hazardous branch could fall and lead to property damage or personal injury.
Get helpful advice and avoid complicated legal issues. An arborist can also examine a tree that broke in half and advise you on the right course of action. You may insist on saving the tree, but an arborist can convince you otherwise if doing so can cause more harm than good. The advice of an experienced tree service company can help you prevent accidents and stay away from complicated legal situations.
Final Thought
Trees are essential, and we should save as many as possible. However, not all cases are ideal for restoration.
If your tree broke in half, its canopy probably suffered severe damage. The wound that results from the trauma exposes the tree to rotting, diseases, and pest attacks.
It’s difficult and expensive to repair the damage and get the tree back in shape. Saving such a tree often leaves it more susceptible to more damage.
In most cases, a tree that has broken is best removed.
