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Advice Needed for Japanese Maple Damage

lionheart_gw (USDA Zone 5A, Eastern NY)

16 years ago

After all the expert advice here and elsewhere, I had the old sugar maple taken down, by an insured professional. Nice guy. The tree was taken down on Wednesday. It's now Saturday and this is the first time I've been able to survey the scene in daylight hours.

Imagine my dismay to see this:

{{gwi:479337}}

Closer inspection revealed the damage:

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Another picture of the damage:

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From another angle, you can see the split on the lower right hand side:

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There are also a few spots higher up on the JM's branches where the bark was scraped off from the collision.

The primary question is: What should I do to fix the damage on the JM?

If the damage can't be fixed, would you complain to the gentleman who took down the tree? I'm a little peeved that he didn't mention this mishap when I spoke with him. It's understandable that stuff happens, and we were happy with the rest of his work, but can't imagine that he wouldn't have seen this problem when it happened.

Anyway, the most important thing is the health of the Japanese maple. It's bad enough that the beautiful old sugar maple had to come down; to lose another tree in the process would be depressing.

Thank you!

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Comments (4)

Nancy Barginear
16 years ago
I'd like to know what to do about bark being peeled off, too. Our loggers made a disaster out of our yard. I was looking at our damaged trees today, wondering if there is any bark replacement stuff that can be applied.

I'm sorry to hear about your Japanese Maple. I feel for you. I'll never trust anyone to work in our yard without me standing right there watching them. Our loggers even felled a tree upon our sailboat. End of sailboat.
laceyvail 6A, WV
16 years ago
That's why they have insurance, right? However, cut off the half torn off limb, and the tree should be all right. If it's really destroyed the shape and you want to replace it, the logger's insurance should pay for it.
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Dibbit
16 years ago
Call the tree guy, NOW!! Have HIM, not an assistant, come and see the damage. Ask him to clean it up at no charge to you, cut off the damaged branch, etc., stating that if the tidying up is unsatisfactory, you expect his insurance to replace it with a comparable tree. Give yourself a reasonable time frame, like the middle of May or June, so you can see what the tree looks like next spring when leafed out. Get it in writing, with copies for you and him. And take LOTS of photos, documenting the damage(s).

If there is any question on his part, then his insurance so. should pay for an impartial CERTIFIED arborist to assess the damage to the JM, and say what should be done to make it right.
lionheart_gw (USDA Zone 5A, Eastern NY)
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you all for the great advice. He's coming over to finish cleaning up, a process that was delayed by wind and rain, and I've already told him about the JM; that we could try cleaning up the damage and hope for the best next year, but that I expect him to be responsible for the damage if it doesn't bounce back.

We took lots of pictures. We'll see what happens.

In the meantime, once the remainder of the tree is removed, I'll try fixing up the JM and hope for the best. Darned thing is that I planted this JM about 16 years ago, when it was just a few feet tall; it took that long for it to grow to the 7 or 8 feet it's at now. Would hate to start over.

Najoba, wow!...that's an awful situation. Having trees removed costs a small fortune. I know there are risks involved and it's hard work, but there's no reason for shoddy workmanship, then sneaking off as if nothing happened.

I liked the guy (owner) who did my work. He had to work in tight quarters between the house, the road, and electrical wires. Accidents happen. But I wish he told me about when he called me after the job was done.

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