What would you do with this deadwood?

[GailC]

My apple stump is coming along nicely, lots of growth and a pot full of roots. Now I'm trying to decide how to style the ugly beast and I'm stuck on the deadwood. Its the only tree I have with deadwood and at first I had thought about leaving it but I'm concerned it will rot and eventually kill the tree.
Lately, I've been considering carving it out instead, I think it would look better and maybe help preserve the tree?
I believe the dead part is where a graft failed, not sure if that makes a difference or not. What would you do if this was your tree? Sorry for the not so good pics, they are all I have right now.

 

[TomB]

I would hollow it out to create a uro. Try to make sure there is a route for any water that gets into it to drain out. I'd also slice the edge off the surrounding callus, and some cut paste on the exposed cambium, so that it rolls over and into the hollow in due course. Put some wood hardener on the exposed wood if you are concerned about decay.

Examples:

(1) Crab apple. Currently being reworked so scruffy, but would have had a branch much like yours at one point.

image

(2) Not an apple (Cornus) but same idea. In addition to the uro shown here, this tree also has a large wound at the top - very much like the one I'm suggesting you create - that I'm dealing with in the same way outlined above.

image

 

[GailC]

Thanks. I was wondering about it collecting water, do I just drill a small drain hole out the bottom/side of the hollow?

 

[TomB]

Thanks. I was wondering about it collecting water, do I just drill a small drain hole out the bottom/side of the hollow?

You can do, or cut the hollow in such a way that it can drain out of the bottom (e.g. an upside-down tear shape).

 

[Cypress187]

Why don't just grow it / let it heal? Nibble a bit on it each year, and let it close, or graft a new branch in it when it's almost healed.

 

[Cypress187]

(2) Not an apple (Cornus) but same idea. In addition to the uro shown here

Wow, that second one is looking good man.

 

[GailC]

Why don't just grow it / let it heal? Nibble a bit on it each year, and let it close, or graft a new branch in it when it's almost healed.

What do you mean let it heal? What is there to heal? It has grown a lot since that pic was taken, it fully leafed out and thrown new growth

 

[Cypress187]

What do you mean let it heal? What is there to heal? It has grown a lot since that pic was taken, it fully leafed out and thrown new growth

I mean u can also cut the deadwood out, make scarring around it, and let it heal over?

 

[GailC]

Ah, I see. Can a wound that big heal over? The base of the deadwood is around 2" across. I like the idea of carving it out but I'm not sure if I can get it shaped right to drain out the water. Have the whole mess closed over would be great.

 

[Nwaite]

Sounds like alot of work. ... is it worth it for the tree?

 

[GailC]

To most people, probably not but I love the ugly thing. I'm going for a ugly, spooky, I live in a haunted cemetery type look. I think a hollow will fit it well.

Cut the dead down a bit more, just to get a idea of what it will look like. I need to get something to treat the wood with, then I'll go ahead and carve it out.