Wound paints and dressings claim to prevent rot and help trees heal from pruning wounds, but research suggests they actually do more harm than good. When you cut off a tree limb or the bark gets damaged, the tree never actually “heals.”
Instead, it compartmentalizes the wounded area with a special type of calloused wood — like a scar — that keeps out bacteria and helps the rest of the tree recover. Keep reading to learn more about treating cut tree limbs with wound paint.
The Impact of Painting a Wound
Painting a wound with wound paint or dressing can prevent the tree from forming calloused wood, which can keep the tree weaker and seal it in water, bacteria, fungi, and decay.
It can also attract disease-causing organisms that feed on the wound paint and interfere with a natural recovery process that nature has taken eons to perfect — two terrible outcomes you don’t want to risk happening to your trees.
How to Help Keep Your Trees Healthy When Pruning
Proper pruning techniques help minimize stress and prevent disease when trimming your trees.
- Prune in late winter while trees are dormant. This season is the best time for pruning, as the tree is less likely to be stressed or damaged.
- Sterilize pruning tools between cuts with rubbing alcohol, ethanol, or hydrogen peroxide to prevent the spread of bacteria and disease.
- Target specific risks by treating wounds with organic treatments. Speak with an arborist about options to prevent diseases that spread through fresh wounds in your area, and only use when necessary.
- Make careful, clean cuts just outside the branch collar where the tree can quickly heal. Avoid leaving stubs or flush cuts that slow healing.
Devastating diseases like oak wilt spread through bacteria and insects feeding on wounds. In these cases, wound paint can reduce the risk of infections, so some experts feel it is better than spreading disease.
Hiring a Professional Arborist
For complicated pruning jobs, hiring an arborist provides important benefits:
- They have expertise in tree health and know the proper techniques to improve the structure and mitigate hazards.
- Access to bucket trucks to reach high branches safely.
- Proper safety gear like harnesses, ropes, and helmets.
- They’ll use sharp, well-maintained tools that minimize damage.
- Arborists will take care of the removal and clean-up of debris.
- Professionals have insurance coverage for damages.
Look for certified arborists — I recommend looking at the Find An Arborist search engine to generate a list of professional arborists in your area. Check reviews and ask for licensing, insurance, and references before hiring.
Check if diseases are a problem locally. If so, follow guidelines on limited wound paint use after pruning. Otherwise, only use it when absolutely needed, as the risks often outweigh the benefits.
So, Is Wound Paint Necessary for Treating Cut Tree Limbs?
In most cases, wound paint is unnecessary and potentially harmful for treating cut tree limbs. Research shows it can seal in moisture, prevent proper healing, and attract pests. Exceptions are areas with diseases like oak wilt that spread through fresh wounds, where limited use may be recommended. Otherwise, proper techniques like sterilizing tools and pruning in winter are best to help trees recover. Hiring an arborist is recommended for big jobs.
FAQs About Treating Cut Tree Limbs
The best time of year to prune trees is late winter when trees are dormant. According to Colorado State University, pruning trees during their dormant season maximizes tree growth and helps you more easily spot problem areas. Avoid pruning during sap flow seasons.
Wipe the blade with alcohol or spray with hydrogen peroxide between cuts to prevent disease spread. You can also use ethanol without diluting it to sterilize your pruning tools between cuts.
Make cuts just outside the branch collar without leaving stubs or flush cuts.
In areas with oak wilt, experts may recommend limited use after pruning oaks. I recommend reading up on local guidelines for the best information on treating trees in your area.
Look for certified arborists. Many experts recommend using the Find An Arborist search engine. Then, check reviews and ask for licensing, insurance, and references.
