Question
Post oak
See attachment for pictures. This large double-trunk post oak was hit by high wind/tornado in April 2008. Note the trunk that came down is hollow.
It is in the front yard of my ranch cabin in North East lee county w/sand loam soil.
What measures can take to save it?
AnswerWith that much decay in the main trunk the chances are the other part of the crown could also be broken in a wind storm. Not really anything that can be done about the decay . You can cut any jagged part of the break off so that the wound is smoother. This will help the tree heal over some of the wound. A wound this large may never heal over completely. I would then fertilize the tree with 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of 1 lb per inch of trunk diameter scattered around the tree and watered in good. Apply just before a rain storm and you will not need to water it in. I would fertilize now and again in the fall after the leaves have fallen.
Without seeing the top and two the weight is distributed and if the tree is leaning I can not say whether pruning of some of the limbs would help. You might call the local office of the State Forestry agency and ask one of their Foresters to come out and take a look. They should be able to advice whether the tree needs pruning or IF there is enough crown left to keep the tree.
