best way to clean up wound after branch removal ?

[stocaz]

Hi all,

This branch was removed last year and i just cleaned it up around the edges and applied some cut paste.

Question is, what is the best way to clean up a scar annually to get it to roll over and look as natural as possible ?

Thanks in advance.

Ross

[Brian]

I was shown a technique many years ago-

After the cambium starts to roll over the wound, you can carefully scrape around the inside edge of the wound causing the tree to grow over the injury.

[JaseH]

This series on developing a very big trident I found helpful and it has some stuff on re-wounding cambium to encourage scars to heal over:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBQMwo9I28c

There are a lot of parts to the progression but worth the watch if you have time.

[stocaz]

Fantastic thanks guys

[Rory]

Another great tip which is often overlooked is.... Do not cut off any little shoots that will grow next to the wound, as this will encourage further healing near the wound. As the branch grows and grows, it will speed up the wound next to it. Obviously it will be a sacrifice branch if you don't want it where it is, but if you decide to keep the branch then all the better, but it will be a relatively small cut compared with the very great upside of having the wound heal quicker. Remember though, a flush straight wound will heal with a bulge. An inwards curved wound will heal with minimal lumpy effect versus a straight cut.