Repairing Damage

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31658, 19 April 1968, Page 6

Repairing Damage

The damage sustained from the recent storm has generally been heart breaking. Suddenly it also seems as though we have been plunged straight into early winter, with all the denuded trees and debris lying around. One of the first jobs to attend to Is surgery for those subjects, especially large trees, which have had limbs torn off. Do not hack them about but saw off the damaged portions, preferably back to a branch junction. So as not to leave a stub. Where bark has been ripped off the wood from remaining growth, pare it back to leave a smooth surface and treat with a suitable sealant. In many instances symmetry will have been greatly upset. In such cases it may be advisable to even up the plant, or the distorted shape may persist, but each case will have to be treated individually. . Stakes and ties will have been loosened, broken or weakened and should be checked. Temporary support can be given by carefully tying to more secure

anchorage as it will be useless to straighten or replace stakes when the ground is very soft Big specimens may require careful removal of soil from around the roots to get them back into position. Wire strainers, winching, or the use of a vehicle to push or pull are other methods which could be adopted to straighten up specimens. Extra soil should be put around the base before ramming the ground arbund each loosened plant. Stakes must be substantial both in length and dimension* in order to achieve the desired results. In some cases It may be necessary to drive them into the ground at least 3ft. Heavy rain also causes leaching of soil nutrients more so in lighter soils than in heavy ones and the addition of blood and bone in the shtubbery will be warranted especially where one has been under' water. However this treatment will be fully effectual if made in springtime when plants come irito active growth again, rather than now.