Japanese acer split down middle

My five year old acer has split down the middle after heavy snow. It's my favourite tree in the garden and I really don't want to lose it. I read on the internet that it's possible to drill a hole through the trunk and bolt the two pieces together, but as the trunk on mine is not that thick I've tied it back in place as it was a clean break. Is there anything else I need to do, apart from cross my fingers and wait? I thought about sealing the edges of the break, but I'm not sure if that would slow down/stop the bark from growing. What do people think?

 

I had a Birch that did a similar thing last year. I tightly bound the stem together with string in the hope that it would self heal. It did leaf out but browned early in autumn but there are buds there that look fine. I think it will heal but after about 1 year it is still not bound and still needs the string to keep it from splitting.

 

Bandage it up nice and tight. I'm sure there is a horticultural thing to use, but I'd just use an ordinary crape bandage much as you might use if you've sprained your knee or ankle. Once the sap starts flowing again in a few weeks, it should heal up.

 

Thanks so much for those replies. I'll get bandaging then!

 

I'd agree with bandaging, just make sure what you use has a bit of give, you don't want to strangle the tree as it could take a year or two for the wound to heal.

 

You need it to be tight or it will not rejoin, that is my experience. You will end up with it rotting or dieing back or not rejoining if it is not tight.

 

All things considered, my conclusion is: I'll wrap it as tight as I can with bandage which has a bit of give in it.

 

Sorry, I meant wrap it tight with something with a bit of give in but my explanation was poor

 

Don't worry Jimlard, that's what I understood!

 

The same thing happened with my Indian Bean and I bought a belt that you can tighten and release when you need to. Worked great and eventually the tree knitted together.

 

It's good to hear success stories Annie, I have every faith that mine will recover too!