Man making a "natural" hollow

[Damian79]

Hi guys
I have an idea for an Ash that I have trunk chopped to make a " natural" hollow. Im wondering if I drill out the center of the remaining trunk and let it fill with water, will this help to rot the trunk from the inside out? If so, how will it affect the health of the tree overall? I know that I could always carve it out, which I may yet do, but I thought id raise the question and see what response I got.
Please feel free to comment or post pics. Im curious to see what other people out there have to say.

[paddles]

I've contemplated doing the same with a tree I have, where there is a small patch of rot in the middle, I wondered if I made a hole, weather it would speed it up...

[Damian79]

This is the tree in question

chop 2.jpg

chop 1.jpg

any thoughts? I think if I can turn the trunk at the top into a hollow and make it a feature it could git rid of some of the reverse taper or make it a bit more interesting to look at anyway. there are some nice dead bits at the top already and with i bog hollowed out section there as well it might give it the "pazazz" it needs

[Damian79]

A quick virt.

virt.jpg

[alpineart]

Hi Damien79 , mate it take time for growing trees to rot . If you were to drill out a section and allow it to hold water the bark can and will in most cases roll over and heal the wound .This has happenned here on Desert Ash and Ulmus species .I have drill out the centers and peeled the bark back severely but this was detrimental to the tree or trees .

Most didn't rot , they died or become useless and these trunks are still in the ground 5 years on and as solid as the day i drilled them out some of the the hollows are still holding water .they have sat in the dampest area on my garden which gets all but no sun . I noticed 2 days ago there is a shoot coming up from below the damaged area on 1 trunk so it may not be completely dead or could be just a root cutting type growth from numerous trees i have planted there over time .

If you want a hollow just carve it and seal the wound with sealer or fire , collect a few pics of hollow pieces of wood from the bush and study them , remember critters need homes too.

Cheers Alpineart

[DustyRusty]

I wouldn't risk it personally. I'd just carve then blow torch it. You'd get the same look with more control, since you are carving not the rot.

[Damian79]

Thanks guys, seems its an easy decision to make
Alpine im not sure what Ash species it is? I have around 20 of them this being the largest and the smallest being the thickness of a pencil.
It might be time to get the dremel out. I have put this tree through hell and it keeps on going.