My neighbor's Kanzan has been "dying" from similar wounds and cracks for fifteen years. He prunes off the obvious dead and lets it do its thing.

no it can not be saved.. but as noted.. dying in tree time can be along time ...

if you have space.. perhaps plant another.. or something else .... so that by the time this one fails completely ... you will have something else to amuse you ...

ken

That's disappointing Ken, but expected I guess.

Cherries are not particularly long-lived, correct? Seems like the inevitable natural process is taking place as ken said.

when i see those vertical lines of whatever.. along the edge of the trunk ... id bet my shiny penny .. that the wound will open up to that extent ... in the next year or two ...

just under the bark.. is the cambium layer .... the vascular system of the tree ... water up.. food down to be stored in the roots ... the cambium is lost in that entire wound .... so its going to have a hard time keeping the top alive ... and probably has for the last few years.. hence your noted limb loss ...

if you are going to plant something ... better get it done soon ... or wait until fall planting time .. im not quite sure of timing for your area ... never plant in the heat of summer ... but if you find a tree you like.. if the timing is wrong.. you can 'hold it over' until the next proper planting time ...

ken

https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub