How to Repair Brown Soft Area on the Trunk of the Norway Maple
Soft, cracked, discolored and deformed spots on the trunk of a Norway maple are called cankers and can have a number of causes. Typically, an injury caused by lawn care equipment, storm damage, insect feeding or animal activity allows fungal or bacterial infections into the sapwood of the tree. Eventually, the infection and canker will spread, girdling the trunk and killing the tree. Since there is usually no cure for these trunk cankers, removal of the tree is usually recommended. Small cankers can occasionally be successfully removed, thus saving the tree. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Sharp knife
- Wound dressing (spray or paint)
- Handheld propane burner
- Bleach and water solution
- Rag
Instructions
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Cut out the diseased wood. Using a sharp knife, cut 1 to 2 inches around the diseased portion of the bark. Peel off and destroy the diseased bark to prevent the spread of the infection.
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Sanitize your knife. If you need to cut out additional cankers, sanitize your knife between each canker by wiping it in a solution of 10 percent bleach and 90 percent water.
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Dress the wound. Cutting out a large portion of the tree bark can amplify the problem by causing a gaping wound where additional infection can occur, so it is important to dress the wound to facilitate healing. Wound sprays or paints are commercially available and should be applied immediately after canker removal. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for proper wound dressing application.
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Tips & Warnings
Alternatively, you can cauterize the wound instead of applying a dressing. Use a handheld propane burner and hold flames to the exposed wood until it begins to crackle. Burning may need to be repeated if the wound still shows signs of disease 15 to 20 days after the initial treatment. Eventually, the charred wood will fall off to reveal a callus.
References
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