[Arid_gardener] Fwd: citrus question

[Dick Gross]

Attn: Nancy Kang

Responding to Mr. Wright's request for a Mastert Gardener to address your question, I believe, if the wound is left open to the air, the chances of infection are less. Callus will scab over and heal the wound much like one on your skin might heal and similar to the healing that ocurrs when a branch is lopped.. 

You don't say how much bark is gone but keep in mind that the bark is a vital organ, of sorts, taking part in the movement of fluid and nutrients between foliage and the root system. The bare spot is permanent. It won't grow over but may appear smaller as callus forms around the edges. If much bark is missing, growth of the tree will be retarded although it might "outgrow" the wound in time.

You might be ahead to remove the tree. A new one planted alongside would overtake and and excede the wounded one sooner than one would expect. If the wounded tree is severely compromised after a couple years, there will be nothing left but a memory and regret. A new tree in that same hole in the same length of time will excede this one at the same point in time, I predict. There are other treatments; forcing a sucker below the damage but above the graft and sawing off the existing stem with the damage would be one; bypass grafts around the wound is another. 

I would opt for a new tree.

I could not find your email address, Nancy, anywhere in this correspondence from Glenn. If any of you have it, please forward this to Nancy. She will probably pick it up in the Arid-Gardener forum but would rather it be direct. 

Supporting and contrary opinions toward solving Nancy's dilemma are expected.

Dick Gross, Master Gardener Volunteer
University of Arizona Maricopa County 
Cooperative Extension


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Glenn C Wright 
  To: arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu 
  Sent: Thursday, June 15, 2006 9:39 AM
  Subject: [Arid_gardener] Fwd: citrus question


  Hello gardeners,
  Can you answer Ms. Kang's question?
  Thanks,
  GCW


    3655A457D5D}

    Hi,

    I have a questions about my citrus tree.

    It is a pink lemon tree - Eureka.  Looks beautiful. 
    Approx. 2 years old.  Noticed a large chunk of bark
    missing really exposing the tree.

    The trunk is painted white.  

    Is there something I can do to cover that up so it
    does not get infected/damaged, etc.?

    Your help is appreciated.

    Nancy Kang

    __________________________________________________
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  Glenn C. Wright, Ph.D.
  Citrus and Date Palm Specialist
  University of Arizona - Yuma Mesa Agriculture Center
  2186 W. County 15th Street
  Somerton, AZ 85350
  Phone: 928-726-4260
  FAX: 928-726-1363
  e-mail: gwright at ag.arizona.edu 



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