Help with this? Expandable foam

Sean Myers

Sean Myers

Location
Roanoke, VA
I'm curious does anyone here do this? Fill cavities with an expandable foam? This is a topic of debate between a co-worker and myself. Is there any research on this subject? Seeking opinions/answers, thanks.
 
If you post pics of the tree and cavity, and have some idea of the objective, we'll be a little less clueless.

Not that that cluelessness ever stopped opinionatedness, though...sometimes they go hand in hand. :rolleyes:
 
Sorry guy didn't get a pic. I will start taking pics to post, thanks. I don't use it personally but my co-worker does. The objective would be to close off a cavity to prevent it from holding water. Shigo I believe stated in Modern Arboriculture that if you had to you could use an expandable foam to prevent water from getting into a cavity. Ahhh I've found it! Pg. 386 Modern Arboriculture "When wood is very dry or very wet wood rotting fungi seldom grow in it", "wood that is very wet resists decay". I know there is a reference to expandable foam in this book just can't find it now. I'm confused is this used in any circumstances or no?
 
Sean Myers said:
Sounds like you've been through this before Chewbacca do you know anything about this?
Click to expand...

Sorry, no. I don't really have anything constructive to add to the thread. There have been a few threads here about filling voids with various things. Some of those threads have become heated. That's what I was referring to. The thread KT points to though, is certainly more sophisticated, although doesn't exactly answer the question. I personally have always thought there was very little evidence to suggest that filling voids (with anything) is better, with regard to decay, than leaving the voids empty. So, I've always left them empty. I would like to hear about others' experiences though.

PS. The new search function IS perhaps the biggest improvement with the new site renovation. =)
 
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Thanks you, I've always kept them empty as well. I see a lot of foam that has been applied many years ago in many trees. Thanks KT I read the thread you pointed out to me. Most of the foam applications I've seen have been broken down, I'm guessing by UV light (most of the time higher in the tree in a cavity) also I think by, like KT pointed out, rodent damage where it has been applied on the bottom on the trunk in a hollow. I like the idea guy was suggesting better (pliable rubber ) seems like it would hold up better than the foam. I don't use anything to fill cavities I am seeking research if there is any on this topic. I do know A. Shigo in Modern Arboriculture referenced expandable foam just can't find the page. I will find it later and let everyone know.
 
Last summer we filled a cavity with expanding foam. Not for the water reason though. We had a tree that we install holiday lights on in the end of September or beginning of October. Years ago a codom broke out leaving a cavity that went up into the remaining stem (small) and a family of gray squirrels had made a home in there. Well our lights must have been very tasty to them because they would chew the bulbs off the strands and cause hours of repair work every year. So we filled the cavity with foam and tacked (to the heart wood area of the tear) a piece of brass wire mesh over it to prevent re-colonization... It didn’t work. They chewed through the heart wood next to the wire and got back in. And to boot the whole think looks terrible. Nature will find a way.
 
I've filled small holes on personal trees I saw getting worse but if it's a large cavity it will make it impossible to keep an eye on if it's getting worse or better so just keep that in mind.
 
IMHO, the value of expandable foam is psychological for the arborist or land owner/manager. That is the context as I recall of Alex Shigo's statements on the matter!

Indeed, in referring to the earlier thread, I wasn't trying to thwart conversation, but was trying to provide a recap of what was already expressed. I'd be interested in hearing from folks whose experience indicates that the valu was beyond the cosmetic!
 
Ahhh, right KT! Pg. 160 "Remember water does not cause rot! Microorganisms do. If the cavity must be filled for aesthetic reasons, then use some type of nonabrasive material such as an expandable foam." Alex Shigo
 
Filling a cavity with anything is better than cement... What were they thinking? "HaHa... wait and see in 60+ Years some poor sob is going to come and cut into this tree and get a heck of a surprise, HaHa!" In the past we've covered cavities to keep critters out using copper sheet metal and aluminum roofing nails. The copper's patina blends into the mossy bark of most trees and is fairly easy to install and maintain.
 
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