Wind damaged young tree

garforthnicole

I have an ornamental crabapple tree, full of blossom at the moment.  It was planted about 3 years ago.  Yesterday a strong gust of wind snapped the top off it.  I am devastated as it is so pretty.  It was hanging on by the bark which my husband cut off.  Can we save it and if so how?  Many thanks in advance.

Nanny Beach

Is it staked can't see in the picture,?

Dovefromabove

A gust of wind?  Really?!  Gracious me ... Whereabouts are you ... the Shetland Isles?!  

What a shame.  My instinct would be to find a promising looking side shoot or bud and cut the trunk back neatly to just above it ... a sloping cut, and hopefully that bud will develop and take over as a 'leader' .... it may not have such a regular shape as it would otherwise have done but I think that as trees mature a slightly eccentric shape can be really attractive on a blossom-covered tree ... just think of some of the mature Japanese cherries.  

It's a shame, but I don't think all is lost.  I do hope not 🤞

garforthnicole

In answer to Nanny Beach it has an H support but it is out of the picture.

thanks Dovefromabove that is really useful.  We are in Devon, fairly close to the coast and in an exposed position.  It s really windy down here at the moment although not stormy we are getting some really strong gusts at the moment.  It was upright when I left the hiuse at 3pm and by 5pm is was broken.  I will give your suggestion a go and hopefully it will survive.  Thanks 

BobTheGardener

If you can post a photo of tree, now the broken bit has been removed, we should be able to advise where best to make the clean sloping cut.