We have a 45 year old Silver Maple in our backyard. At some point in it’s early days, someone probably hit it with a car and left a scar. Ants started to invade so I decided to try to help the tree. I scraped out all the debris and as many ants as I could. Then I sprinkled red pepper flakes into the crack; ants do not like red pepper flakes. For the next few years, every few days or so in the nicer weather I would take a stick and clean out the crack and occasionally sprinkle more red peppers in the hole. Well, low and behold the tree started to heal itself by forming bark over the wound. Today, the crack is almost completely closed.

Name: Cathy Truesdale
Email: ctrues48@gmail.com
Tree Species: Acer saccharinum
Tree Height: Approx: 80ft
Crown Spread: Approx: 50ft
Trunk Diameter: Approx: 25 inches
Tree Hugger(s): 2
City: Wheaton

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