Question
Jim, due to a recent storm I returned home from vacation only to find that a significant limb on my favored red bud tree had split downward like a wish bone splitting the main trunk of the tree about 6 inches. I cut off the branch which was damaged and tied the split area together. It is of coarse the leader branch of the tree.
I was wondering if I could bolt it together to hold and put tree repair on the wound. would it ever heal. I don't want to top off the tree. It is only 5 years old and is just getting pretty, I don't want to loose it.  Help, Debra

Answer
I would try wrapping the area with tree wrap to hold the wound together. Before you wrap try applying grafting wax to the wound this will help hold moisture in and aid the healing. There is a new product called Parafilm Grafting film that can be used instead of the wax and wrap. I would check with your local tree nursery for these products. Here is a web link to the Parafilm Grafting film

http://www.2spi.com/catalog/supp/parafilm-grafting.shtml