Repairing a cracked tree trunk

Tree Art

A Reader's Question

From time to time a tree blog reader sends me a question about care for trees. I always ask my arborist friends for their advice. The question was how to repair a damaged tree trunk that has split. This is from Meg:

Using a rope, pull the tree up to where the wound has closed. Drill a small hole through the tree and slide a bolt through it. Put some FLAT washers on each end of the bolt and lightly tighten the nut up. Using a very sharp knife, trace around the washer, through the sap wood. Loosen up the nut and remove the bark under the washers. Then tighten the nut back up. You'll need to provide some support to the tree for a couple of years. Put 3 stakes around the tree and attach some twine to the tree, using some tubing or old cut sections of a garden hose to run the twine through, around the tree.

Mowing Season

Tree Art

18x24 inches

oil on canvas

wood frame with copper trim

Available in my Loft Studio

4122 NW 16th BLVD

Gainesville, FL (next to Fresh Market)

Notes From My Tree Painting Journal

I caught this scene by accident with my I-Pad camera a couple of weeks ago. The tractor was just in the right place and the light framed the scene.I loved the dark tree on the right and the multiple textures throughout the scene. The trees were left simple and the emphasis on the tractor and strong light in that area. it was a complex and fun painting to do. The color is fairly rich in this painting compared to some palettes I use. I wanted to emphasize the rich greens of full on summer in Florida. I am quite fond of portals in my work and this scene was the perfect opportunity to use a strong portal in my composition. The trees set the scene.