Cracked Crack Willow

[David Sutton]

Well the weather this last few days has been tough on trees but my 35ft Crack Willow has taken a real pasting with a top bough ( 200mm thick) split over 2 metres and clearly needs to come off.

 

Big shame is that it will remove about 25% of the canopy and leave the tree distinctly misshapen.

 

So should I pollard it much lower, just clean up the damaged area or take it out altogether

 

Thanks for any advice

[agg221]

Need photos, preferably from several angles.

 

Alec

[David Sutton]

Will post tomorrow with photos - thanks

[agg221]

Oh and hello and welcome btw

[David Sutton]

See piccies. Split has worsened overnight as the weight just pulls it down. About 3/4 of the crown has gone with this split bough and there are small splits in another major branch. I'm concerned about the prospect of damage to other branches in removing the split one as it is the very top of the crown.

 

The adjacent pine tree which can be clearly seen in Picture 10 is normally not visible from that angle.

 

Clearly we need to take off the damaged branch asap and hope it doesn't do any serious further damage on the way down .

 

Question is therefore just tidy it up and let nature prevail or Pollard it next winter or take it out?

 

Thanks in advance

 

David

[skyhuck]

I'd pollard it now, Willow are as tough as old boots, so chances are it will do OK and put on plenty of growth before the end of this season.

 

There is always a slight chance you will kill it but 9 times out of 10 it will come back with vengeance.

[treeseer]

That is a shame; until i saw the pics i was gonna suggest bolting. I agree w skyhuck; waiting will do no good.

With a lot of training on the new sprouts, it should be restored in time. Also that is one cut where experimenting with a sealant to slow rot might make sense to try; nothing to lose.

[Paul Jenks]

Give it a good haircut and, as Huck has said, it should come back in no time. It's no good leaving willows to get too big anyway as they inevitably fall to bits. These willows come out early so it should have had enough time to get in a decent feed from its leaves.

[Peter]

Will it do any damage if it falls apart over the summer?

 

If there is no risk to persons or property there is no rush to pollard it.

[woody paul]

Looks like it's grown lop sided because of pine so pollarding it may make it re-balance it self. A big weeping willow near my dropped all it limbs over 3 weeks and left it in a state nothing was done to it. 3 years on know it looks great with out being touched.