Trees, Shrubs and Conifers: Damaged Oak - great deal on price - but to risky?, 0 by jimmerpro

jimmerpro wrote:
There is a columnar English Oak I found - looks great. Nice structure, very full leafed. Very healthy looking except for a large opening in the bark near the bottom. I'm going to try to post pictures. It seems dry inside. It seems like an old wound.
The person working there said care would have to be taken - no mulching over the opening. He suggest alcohol (rubbing???) be applied to protect from wood rot. He mentioned it looked like it has been healing.
It's the perfect tree I've been looking for except for this wound. Of course they don't have healthy ones left. I probably would have paid full price for this tree. $400. I've been looking and haven't seen any this nice at near by nurseries.
What do you think?

Jim