Restore and protect mature trees with expert, field-tested methods.
Practical Tree Repair provides practical guidance on bracing, wound treatment, and cavity management to help trees endure damage and stay healthy.
This edition walks you through shaping and edging cavities, choosing antiseptics, and what to expect from different filling materials. It covers how to brace a tree with through-trunk bolts, how to place braces for maximum effect, and when to consider outside supports or alternative strategies. The book also offers cautions about common mistakes and how to avoid harming the cambium or bark during repair work.
- How to shape the mouth of a cavity to keep the filling in place and encourage healthy callus growth
- When and how to use shellac, tar, or asphalt to protect exposed wood and prevent drying
- Proper bracing techniques, bolt sizing, and spacing to support weakened trunks
- Guidance on evaluating when interior reinforcement is or isn’t worth the effort
Ideal for practicing arborists, grounds managers, and serious hobbyists who need durable, field‑tested methods for extending the life of valuable trees.