Palo Verde 'Desert Museum' Will Recover from Wind Damage

Q. I have a desert museum Palo Verde that was damaged during a windstorm. One of the branches blew off and damaged the trunk. It is an eyesore. Should I replace it?

Replacing a tree because of damage is a personal call. The tree will repair itself from that kind of damage. It may take three or four years if you can live with that kind of damage for the next year or two.

A. I would let the tree heal on its own but help it along its way. Healing takes two to three years if the tree is kept in good health. To do that, clean up the wound and apply management practices that encourage it to heal. Don't use any paint or “tree healer” as this was proven ineffective in past research and could actually slow the healing process. If you do paint the damaged area, use latex water-based paint. If there are any “splinters” resulting from the damage, remove them with a sanitized knife. Make the damage, and healthy areas surrounding it, as smooth as possible so the healing is faster and pleasant to look at.

Large tree wounds will heal if given time and you provide adequate water and fertilizer.  First they will compartmentalize their wounds and then start rolling in their cambium layer as it heals from site.

With that same knife remove the outer bark so that the edge is smooth and clean, and the damaged area is shaped like a vertical football. The damaged area will “compartmentalize” and the tree will “roll” over the area as it heals over the next couple of years. When the tree starts to grow this spring, make sure it gets adequate amounts of water and fertilizer. Good health practices help the tree to heal faster.

Early or late snowfall can damage trees with leaves still on them as this African sumac was damaged in Las Vegas. Repair of split limbs must be done very soon after the damage occurs or it won't work.

To reattach or repair a limb split, or otherwise damaged area from a tree during a windstorm, is usually a lost cause. If done successfully the limb must be reattached, or repaired, within minutes or even seconds after it is severed or broken. Time is very important so that the damaged area doesn’t “dry out” before it is repaired.