Split Trunk on a Lilac Tree -repair or the chop?

[George the Pigman]

I have an old lilac tree (more that 25 years old!) in our back garden and there is a long split (about 2 foot long)down the trunk on the left hand side. I would say the gap at its largest at the tope end is a couple of inches wide. If I took it out I would lose about a third of the tree. However it has been suggested that I simply put a tie around the crack to stop it getting bigger.
Would it work or should I give that section of the tree the chop?

[George the Pigman]

[squeezyjohn]

I reckon take it out.  My lilac had bacterial blight a few years back (leaves and flowers turned brown and died back looking awful) ... the advice was to prune it within an inch of it's life, right to the ground.  A couple of years later and it's back to the same size it was and healthy.  I think they're difficult to kill!

If mine can lose the whole of the tree and survive - yours can survive losing a third.

[Digeroo]

I would suggest removing it.  It will be a source of infection.  2/3rd of a tree is better than no tree at all.  It will also show you whether there is any infection below the split.

[George the Pigman]

My main problem to date has been wood pigeons eating the leaves in the summer. Apparently they are a mild narcotic for them! Not seen any with rotating eyeballs as yet!

[woodypecks]

Just read this ..Oh I do hope you haven't chopped it down ! I would definitely do the bandage thing . ...I had a plum tree which split in the gales  during last Autumn. I bandaged it with plastic tape and it has healed beautifully ... I will give it a bit longer time and then remove the tape .
Lilac is such a lovely tree and heavenly scented flowers..worth saving !  Debbie   

[Robert_Brenchley]

Even if it is cut back, lilac's extremely tough, and it'll grow back. I've got some in my hedge; I coppiced it way back, and it just grew back again perfectly happily.

[squeezyjohn]

Yeah - don't worry woodypecks ... you can't kill lilac just by chopping it down!  It's like Elder!

[George the Pigman]

Well an update. In the end I had the whole main stem that had the crack in it cut down to the base. Turned out it was hollow all the way through. Glad I did as Storm Doris struck a few days later!
I've got a number of other stems on the lilac that look fine so I should have some flowers this year.