I have a mullberry tree in my yard that is split. I think the tree is actually 3 trees that grew together but after a storm it is split and it looks like it is 3 seperate trunks. This happened back in August. The tree still has leaves and doesnt look like it is dying. Its a beautiful tree and I would like to keep it but Im worried about the thing falling on my house. I have pictures but I dont know how to put them on this.

Does anybody know anything about this? Someone suggested pulling the trees together with a strap. Is this a good idea? Will the tree grow back together? Is it better to just remove the tree? Any suggestions, comments would be appreciated. Thanks

 

You can post the photos on Photobucket and give us the address.

How large is the tree? Could you drill through just above the split and install a large all-thread bolt to pull it together? A strap around the trunk will kill the tree. It cuts off the sap flow from the roots.

Post the photos so we can see the nature of the problem.

 

I agree with Wirepuller that you may need the tree cabled, but if this is a hazard tree it's not going to make it any safer, but this does sound like a hazard tree. Do not strap the tree. I'd love to see pictures too, but you may need a certified arborist to take a look at it. Here's some info on hazard trees.
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/hazardtrees.html
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/ho...haz/ht_haz.htm

Newt

 

I will post pics of the tree on Photobucket and put the link in here tommorrow. Thanks for the reply!

 

I posted some pics of the split tree on photobucket. Any comments, suggestions or anything would be helpful. I included pics of all three sides. Thanks in advance.
http://s221.photobucket.com/albums/dd148/POOCHIESTYLE/

 

I'm not a certified arborist, but that tree is what I'd call a hazard tree at this point. It's much too close to the house, especially with the stress crack and multiple trunks separating. If this were my tree I'd call a certified arborist to ask what they think can be done.

If you post these pictures on an arborists site they will probably 'scould' you for the concrete ring you have around it, but that is not the cause of the problem. That tree needs an on-site inspection.

Newt

 

Thanks for the info. Whats wrong with the concrete ring? It was there when I bought the house, I just left it. There are wood chips around the tree, is that good? bad? neither?

I actually wanted to redo my back yard this fall but I put that on hold until I figure out what to do with my tree.

The building is actually my garage with a sun room. That area gets no sun so there is very little grass and I wanted to make a rock garden under the tree.

Where do I find a certified arborist? Phone book? Thanks for your help again.

Pooch

 

Pooch, you are very welcome! Some good questions.

It can constrict the roots, and if not expanded with the growth of the tree can cause the tree roots to compete with lawn grass.

Mulch around the base of a tree over the roots is a good thing if done properly. It should be 2" thick, organic material such as shredded wood and not piled against the trunk. Tree roots actually are found mostly in the top 12" of soil and grow beyond the outer dripline of the crown. You should find these sites helpful.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/WO017
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/Garden/02926.html
http://www.treesaregood.com/treecare/trees_turf.aspx
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/MG/MG08900.pdf
http://www.treesaregood.com/treecare/mulching.aspx


You can search here at the International Society of Arboriculture.
http://www.isa-arbor.com/findArborist/findarborist.aspx

Get references and call them. That's really important. I had 5 trees removed on a very difficult site, and when they left, there wasn't a leaf on the ground! Watching them take the trees down was like watching a carefully choreographed dance.

Newt