Thought tree wound paint was just old school nonsense until a job in Tacoma
For years I rolled my eyes whenever someone brought up tree wound dressing. My old boss called it 'putting a bandaid on a chainsaw cut' and I believed him. Then I got a call to look at some big leaf maples that got hit by a truck, the city wanted them saved if possible. The arborist on site, this guy named Frank who's been doing it since the 80s, insisted we use a specific thin coat of a black asphalt-based paint. He said for certain wounds over 3 inches, especially on maples in a damp climate, it can slow decay just enough for the tree to start closing over. We did half with it, half without. Checked back two seasons later and the painted ones had way less rot starting inside the wound. Still not for every cut, but I have a can in my truck now for the right situation. Anyone else found a use for it on specific species or just in wet areas?