'Desert Museum' Palo Verde Damaged by Wind

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?

Palo verde is a rather soft tree particularly if you are in a hurry and want to grow it fast. Watering it like a mesic tree will speed its growth but could increase its potential for damage during strong winds.

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. 

Sealing paints are a gimmick and don't help the tree heal. In fact it can do just the opposite and prevent rapid healing.

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.

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.

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.