I gave a tree an abortion..

[Calidoscopelove]

I'm very upset with myself.. I believe I took it too far when I was removing English ivy off of a green maple tree... in the middle of all the branches above her trunk there was a baby tree that was quite large! I felt like I should take it out because it might grow through the entire trunk and kill the mother tree... well when I pulled out the baby btw there was a couple I think but this was the largest.. there was a huge pit of basically dirt.. idk why but 8 dug it all out .. then water pooled in the center of the branches on top of the trunk... then wired creatures were being born in the water unidentifiable and also what looked like some type of white mushroom fleshy pulp... and ofcourse leaves.. I tried to empty it out a few times but really need maybe some type of drain hole.. I wish I left the baby tree there because it drunk the water that pools there now.. the bottom of the pool was rounded and not breaking like the side of the bottom of the trees rotting bark that I accidentally dug out into yet another much smaller pool of water ..I'm sorry please what can I do I thought of planting another thing I'm the middle to soak up the water and on the side bottom pool too..? Any suggestions are appreciated... 

[nepia]

I've drilled a hole before now to let a major branch union drain.  It worked for years.   It was on a Tulip tree which is probably more vigorous than a maple but worth considering if the water's a problem.

But water without oxygen - i.e. under the surface of a pool - is no biggie for nature; it's water + oxygen that gets active.

[Will C]

I was always told not to drain water from forks or old wounds as it keeps the air out and as decay needs oxygen. 

[nepia]

That was my point but by draining the cavity the water would run away and not linger to cause activity with the air; the cavity would stay dry.  It worked with my Tulip.  Unfortunately the included union didn't during the winter of '13/'14.

[skyhuck]

Grossest thread title ever......................