Prune Sealer

Hello,

Just a quick question; is it ever a good idea to use a prune sealer on freshly pruned limbs? I have an old can of this that I'm ready toss since I remember reading somewhere that this is actually bad for trees. What about large bushes?

Thanks! Christina

Probably best to prune at the right time of year. There is much controversy associated with the use of prune sealers so I think I will just sit this one out and wait and see who says what ;)

I agree with Equilibrium. Here' somebody else's opinion.
http://www.cahe.nmsu.edu/ces/yard/2001/021001.html

It is recommended to use sealers if you live in an area with oak wilt and have to do pruning during the summer, and also sometimes when pruning fruit trees to limit attraction to sap feeding beetles. Other than that, it is mostly not recommended. My main concern is that the color of the sealer is usually black, which means if used in the sun it will get hot to the touch. Seems like that would create sun scald.

I've heard several times that the sealer seals in problems that can fester underneath.

Agreed with Growin, they can make conditions under the seal very good for decay and disease.

The one exception to not using them is to use a bio-active wound paint of the saprophytic fungi Trichoderma viride or T. harzianum; these colonise the wound surface, and actively suppress decay and disease fungi.

Resin

Resin, where do you find bio-active wound paint?

I have bio-active wound paints. I can get you a source a little later for us here in the US. I would use one of those for the reasons mentioned by Resin. I'll go and look at my can a little later but I gotta run right now.

I have an old pecan tree that has a burn wound on the side of it. Would this paint be beneficial to use on it?

Well, I can't find it. I'm sure it's here somewhere. It was a product I bought from a Bonsai store. It was an aerosol spray that had insecticidal as well as a fungicidal properties to it that was referred to as a would paint. Possibly Neem was one of the ingredients? Help me here resin. What is the name of the product on your side of the pond. Maybe it's the same product I bought.

The man told me to treat immediately. I don't recall any other specifics.

Some info here from the US EPA:
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/biopesticides/ingredients/factsheets/factsheet_128902.htm

Otherwise, just put 'trichoderma tree wound' into google and you should be able to hunt down US brand names and suppliers

Resin

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/PP123

Lac Balsam with Binab?
http://www.treelink.org/joa/2002/nov/03Hudler.pdf#search='Lac%20balsam%20plus%20Binab'

Sold here-
http://www.treerx.com/

This is not what I bought from the Bonsai store. I am pretty darn sure what I purchased was in an aerosol can and it contained Neem oil extracts as well as some sort of a fungicide which may or may not have had saprophytic fungi in the mix.

I see a use for this type of a product for me personally. I originally purchased it because I wanted to steer clear of the tar products yet I want to try something to increase the rate of closure to wounds to my cherry trees compliments of my wonderful husband and his lawn mower.

If you all find anything out there available to us in the US, please post your findings.

Thank you for the great information! The sealer is history! :)