What do i do with a young maple tree that has broken in half by the wind??
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There is a kind of tape that u can use to regraft the tree back together.
poor tree...
throw it in the recycling bin!
I would secure the tree back to it's original position with the 2 halves together. Lash it secure with splints and stake the tree in order for it to not be able to move. Then cross fingers and hope it repairs itself.
I had a tree to split in half and we pulled it back together and drilled a hole through it and put a large bolt with large washers on both sides and let the tree grow back together. The tree is still alive and doing well. This was about six years ago. Leave the bolt and washers and nuts and all in the tree. The tree will grow over them.
If you're Southern hemisphere the Maple will be dormant and should respond well to using a stick as a splint and fixing it with grafting tape. If Northern hemisphere it is in its peak growing time and is in trouble. Prune a lot of the leaves to reduce the amount of moisture the tree is trying to suck up. Leave any growth below the break, and if there is even one good branch below the break you might be better to tie that into as upright a position as possible, cutting the broken top half off completely (on an angle) leaving just enough stem above the lower branch to securely fasten it in the upright position. (if possible). DONT trim the tip of that branch, instead, choose the longest healthy shoot as the new 'leader' and trim the other shoots around it, this way upward growth will continue.
If there is no growth at all below the break the chances are not as good, but try splinting and taping, trying to get the outer layer (the cambium) lined up as closely as possible, and still trim the bulk of the upper leaves. The cambium is just below the outer bark and is where all the growing takes place. If the cells heal all will be well, if not...
...Remember to stake young trees in future!
Best of luck!
If it has broken in half - ie the top is on the floor and the bottom still planted - then all you can do is dig it up and plant a new one.
Most maples are prone to wind and other storm damage especially Silver Maples. If wind is the norm where you live, like here in N Dakota, I would highly recommend a different tree. If your stuck with what you have, I would recommend remedial pruning over trying to repair it. Use the same pruning techniques as you would on fruit trees, especially the selection of wide angled scaffold branches for strength and regular pruning of rank growth. RScott
I had a similar problem with a Hawthorn. I sealed the broken top and left the rooted stump to its own devices. It took two years, but now its four foot tall and growing really well.
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