How and what to use to properly seal a hole in an apple tree

The development of a hole in an old apple tree is a fairly common problem. Gardeners today use various methods to treat this type of hole. This article will discuss how and what to use to repair a hole in an apple tree.

Content

1 Reasons for occurrence
2 How to fill the hollow
3 Instructions for filling out
4 Video: "Treating a Hollow in an Old Apple Tree"

Reasons for occurrence

The formation of a cavity in an apple tree trunk is quite dangerous, as it tends to expand. The most common cause of this type of cavity is infection with wound rot, caused by the saprophytic fungus Caverna.

This disease progresses steadily due to infection of healthy surrounding tissue. Therefore, if no control measures are taken, a large cavity will form in the trunk. Various types of mechanical damage (if not properly treated) lead to fungal infection. Such damage can occur in the following situations:

incorrect pruning of branches;
branches breaking in strong winds;
damage to the trunk by rodents.

Due to the appearance of a hollow, the apple tree begins to reduce the volume of its harvest and also becomes more brittle. As a result, if this problem is not addressed, the tree affected by the fungus will soon die. Therefore, to save the apple tree, you need to know what to do in this case. After all, improper treatment can only harm the tree.

How to fill the hollow

Gardeners use the following materials to close the hollow:

Mounting foam. This is a simple method, as it allows you to foam the hole quickly and easily;
Cement. To use it, the hole should be filled with small crushed stone or broken brick. Only then can the cavity be sealed with cement.

In addition to cement and foam, such formations can be sealed with hardwood plugs. Regardless of the material used, it is recommended to finish it with garden pitch or paint.

Instructions for filling out

To stop the rotting process inside a tree with a hollow, you need to know how to heal this "wound" correctly to avoid relapse.

You can heal a cavity of any size by following these steps:

First, it is necessary to clean the hollow from the inside from rotten tissue;
then treat the hole with a biologically neutral material;
select the material that will be used for sealing;
close the hole with its help.

Depending on the type of material chosen, there are various ways to close the hole. Let's look at each option in more detail.

A seal made from polyurethane foam is produced as follows:

Before foaming the hole, all debris and other rubbish is removed from it;
Then, the inside of the cavity is treated with a copper sulfate solution. To prepare it, dissolve two level teaspoons in a glass of plain water. Wear protective clothing, goggles, and a mask for this treatment. It's best to apply the solution with a spray bottle or a brush.
After treatment, 3-4 hours should pass. During this time, the solution will dry completely;
then the edge of the hole is coated with garden pitch;
then we proceed to blowing out the mounting foam;
When it has hardened, its excess is carefully cut off with a sharp garden knife.

To prevent damage to such a polymer filling from sunlight, it should be painted over with oil-based paint. As you can see, working with foam is quite simple and can quickly solve the problem of even a large cavity in an old apple tree.

A filling prepared with cement mortar is created in a hollow as follows:

First, the hole is cleared of necrotic tissue using a scraper;
Next, prepare a 5% copper sulfate solution for disinfection. To obtain it, dissolve 4 teaspoons of the blue powder in 0.4 liters of warm water;
then you need to put on a mask, gloves and glasses and start treating the hollow with the solution;
After processing, the wood must dry;
then small broken bricks are poured into the hole;
for large hole diameters, reinforcement is used;
Next, prepare a cement mortar of standard consistency (like thick sour cream). To make it, use 3 liters of sand and a liter jar of cement. After this, add a tablespoon of drying oil to the mixture. Mix the mortar thoroughly.
Next, the cavity is filled with cement. The mortar should be level with the bark. Any excess should be removed before it hardens. The surface of the filling is smoothed with a rubber glove.

The cement filling should dry for 6 days. After the surface of the filling has dried, the repaired hole is coated with oil-based paint. This is applied in two layers.

Treatment of a hollow in an old apple tree using both methods is carried out in late autumn.

Video: "Treating a Hollow in an Old Apple Tree"

This video will show you how to properly seal a hole in an apple tree.