Fredselfish comments on Removed a cable that had been wrapped around a tree for about fifteen years

[–] Fredselfish@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 month ago (6 children)

Thank you, wonder how long for the tree to heal?

[–] Beacon@fedia.io 13 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I only know a tiny bit about trees, but i think the answer is basically never. Only the very outer layer of a tree grows, so the parts that were constricted during that year's growth will stay permanently that shape forever.

Cosmetically I'd guess the bark might grow in to fill the gap, but that's just a pure guess

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[–] SepticModular 11 points 1 month ago

The bark will form on the outside of callous wood that will likely grow in/over to respond to the stressor or lack thereof.

Bark is just a dead skin on top of living tissue. The living tissue has to be there for the bark to form. So, cosmetically, callous wood may grow in to fill that damage which will have bark on it.

There are probably a lot of trees out there with cables inside them when callous wood was able to bridge (callous wood touching from top to bottom) over the wire. Some arborist friends of mine took down a tree that had an entire washing machine inside of it.

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[–] AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 month ago

Just growing into the gap from the top and bottom of it might be enough to eventually close it though, given enough time.

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[–] Twinklebreeze@lemmy.world 3 points 4 weeks ago

If I had to hazard a guess I would say the tree will probably fail before it has a chance to heal. That trees a goner.