Can a broken branch be repaired?

14 years ago

Hello,

I bought a nice little Satsuma tree the other day and it had a broken branch hanging loosely. I'd like to save the branch if it's possible, but have never done any kind of grafting. The broken part of the branch had some live baby oranges on it and the leaves are still green and live-looking.

I used duct tape to put the branch back together until I could get some help with this, if possible.

Thanks for any help anyone can give me,

Vivian

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Comments (5)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
14 years ago
you would repair the TREE.. by removing/pruning off the broken part ...

its the right thing to do ...

we have all broken stuff .. so its not all that big a deal ...

now that i have googled.. its a fruit tree.. you might want to try that forum ..

but i dont see that branch.. ever holding up a large load of fruit ...

put another way... its a tree.. prune it properly.. it is not a child with a broken arm.. that can 'heal' ...

ken
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
14 years ago
Most branches can heal a recent break if tied back together right away with a stretchy tape(not duct tape). All the weight will need to be removed, leave no fruit. In the case of an orange tree which normally does not have a critical shape, I would not bother, either cut it off or cut it back. Al
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
14 years ago
let me put it this way ...

the interior of a branch.. is basically dead wood ... that part.. will NEVER mend ..

the exterior 'skin' can encapsulate ... and grow new wood over the decades ...

but my question is.. how many decades of exterior growth will be necessary to support the broken interior ... especially.. as the branch elongates ...

i think .. peeps think. a branch can heal like a broken bone.. but in that case.. the bone itself.. can actually mend.. but in the case of a tree.. it can not ...

you might be able to make it LOOK LIKE it was never broken .. but the odds are.. that it will never be structurally sound ...

can it be done??? .. probably ...

should it be done??? .. probably not ...

what usually happens is that one experiments ... and has some initial success.. and then eventually the branch fails ... usually during a storm or some unforeseen problem ..

ken
noss
Original Author
14 years ago
Hi Ken,

Thanks for all the information. The branch is GONE as I'm thinking it would be loaded with Satsumas, the best ones and then it would break, maybe leaving a larger scar to deal with.

Thanks for the help in deciding what to do. I got much the same advice on the Citrus Forum. I went over there as you suggested.

Thanks Ken and Al,

Vivian
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
14 years ago
i rarely break a lessor one..

its always the best.. or the leader.. lol ..

ken