Splicing a damaged branch.

jerry.d-wilkes

We bought a lovely tall Prunus tree for the front of our house. Unfortunately one of the branches is damaged.  Would it be possible to diagonally cut out the damaged bit (50% of the branch,see the white of the car behind showing through)?Is it likely to work? Do I wrap it with string or tape? Does it need wax or grease over the spliced section to stop it drying out? 
PS I'm not a gardener! Thanks, Jeremy 

K67

I think not, trees have systems for drawing water up so I think it's on a par with removing a scratch on your arm by cutting your arm off and then reattaching with a bit of tape to hold it together.
Your body repairs itself and your tree is doing the same.
Can't see the whole branch in question but does it still look healthy?

pansyface

The damage doesn’t look like a crack or a cut. It looks like bacterial canker. In which case, watch this video

https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-prune-out-bacterial-canker/

jerry.d-wilkes

Hi K67,
It's more than equivalent to a scratch,
There is probably less than half of the branch still connected. I hoped that something like a graft might help it.
The branch is healthy and has leaves, so hopefully it will repair itself and form a knuckle in a few years. I am supporting it with string at the moment, see pic.
Thanks, Jeremy

jerry.d-wilkes

Hi Pansyface,
I'm pretty sure it's not a canker, the projecting bits look like folded bark where the branch almost snapped off. Sounds like I just need to leave it alone and hope for the best🙂

tui34

Hi - I think you are doing the right thing - the branch looks as if it is repairing itself.  The string/rope seems like a good idea.  You could try binding it with electrical tape, but quite frankly, it may be best to leave the rest to nature.

pansyface

Do you have any idea how this mysterious damage occurred?

jerry.d-wilkes

We bought it from a tree nursery, who also delivered it, but not sure if it got snapped before or after delivery :-/
Sounds like it's best left to repair itself.

jerry.d-wilkes

Hi Tuikowhai34,
I agree, I'll leave the string on and left it do it's own thing over the next few years. 
Thanks, Jeremy

BobTheGardener

Personally, I'd wait a couple of months (to avoid silver leaf) until midsummer and remove that branch as that damage will always be a weak point and potential entry point for disease.  Trees are able to heal clean wounds much quicker if you cut branches off immediately above the collar, just here in your case:

Of course, you could let it heal and see what happens but you do risk a disease entering that open wound until that is complete.

jerry.d-wilkes

Hi Bobthegardener,
I think I am too tempted to leave it and hope for the best. It's the lowest branch on the tree and it would help with its shape.