Should Tree Hollows Be Treated or Will They Do As They Are: Here's What the Pros Do
A hollow in a tree is, in principle, the same as any other wound, which means that it definitely needs to be treated.
An expert of the online publication BelNovosti, agronomist, landscape designer Anastasia Kovrizhnykh advises to start treatment in a timely manner.
Start by cleaning the hollow from dust and dirt until you reach the healthy wood layer.
Once the surface has been cleaned, it is time to disinfect. Copper sulfate, for example, can be used for this purpose.
If the cavity is too large, the disinfection procedure will have to be repeated several times, with an interval of 2-3 weeks between them.
The next step is to install the seal. To prepare it, a mixture of one part liquid cement and four parts sand is usually used.
To prevent the solution from leaking out, cover the hole by tying a board or cellophane film.
Once the cement has set, the hollow should be leveled with a layer of thicker cement mortar.
It is worth recognizing that this method has a significant disadvantage: due to sudden temperature changes, the cement can shrink and expand, which leads to the formation of cracks.
Therefore, you can choose another option for yourself - clay, perlite sand, expanded clay or polystyrene foam, and leave the cement exclusively for sealing the hollow.
