I am from the "Old school" and was taught to fill cavitys with cement. I have only done a few cavity jobs, and either used cement or tree tar based on the size of the cavity. I thought of using poloyuathane (sp?) fome that comes in a can, on a up coming job, but was not sure if it would hurt the tree. So my question is what is the newest and best way to fill a cavity?

Naturally I hate using cement because I have been one of the guys who has come along behind years later and ran a chain saw into it.
TIA
Climb High!
Dave

Reply to post by Dave Earnhardt, on September 01, 2000 at 17:11:22:

Hi Dave, before you start thinking about filling a cavity, and how: you should ask "why".
As far as your reference to your web page is concerned, I am impressed with the challenge you were faced with in the beech tree removal. However, for me personally, I would have made a bigger emphasis on "the safest removal" I ever did, rather than the most "dangerous". We do undertake highly technical removals and will utilize every available technological advantage that exists, yet, we do NOT undertake "dangerous removals".

Reply to post by James Causton, on September 01, 2000 at 17:11:22:

The cavity I am refering to is not the same one as the beech tree. I would not have even tried to fill that one. It was pretty obvious it needed to come down. The cavity I was asking for material to fill it with is in a maple that was topped out at one time. It is in a crotch and is holding water and rotting. The question is what do you recommend to fill it?

Reply to post by Dave Earnhardt, on September 01, 2000 at 22:42:53:

If you have a cavity in a crotch which already is decaying you are not going to achieve anything by filling it, in fact you may well accellerate the rate of decay. I would recommend reading Shigo's work before you fill any cavities!

Reply to post by James Causton, on September 05, 2000 at 12:22:00:

Always love the chance to dredge up more discussion on the pros & cons of cavity filling. I do think there are valid reasons to fill cavities (GASP!)

One is mosquitos. Now I don't know how high up this cavity you all are talking about is, but at low heights, big cavities can be a mosquito haven. Secondly, they can also be a squirrel haven. And while I do in general like to promote wildlife, squirrels are basically just tree rats, and here in Central TX they cause VERY EXTREME INJURY to a large number of trees (through their gnawing and girdling).

So, filling cavities to repel these two pests is a legitimate job in my opinion. As to what to use, well, concrete does suck, no doubt. I haven't seen any trees with foam in them appear to suffer from it, and I've seen it in quite a few. Haven't used it myself.

You could also cut a piece of flashing to fit the face of the cavity, and nail it to the face. I would ONLY do this if you have old sapwood to nail into, and DO NOT cover any woundwood that may be forming over the edge of the cavity area. Again, if woundwood already exists up to or into the cavity, DO NOT use this technique. Same with the foam. I wouldn't put it over any woundwood.

Would love to hear other opinions.