Emergency first aid for Nectaplum tree

I purchased a Spicy Zee Nectaplum last year, a whip planted in November that now has a few branchings up about 8 feet tall with the lower trunk about 3/4" in diameter.  I had a guy take down a damaged sweetgum tree, and he managed to drop it on my Nectaplum. The tree bent over and almost broke off about 4 feet up the tree, and the guy said "Oh, it's traumatized...here, let's fix this." Well, fixing meant bending the tree back up into its original position and zip-tying along a five-inch section of the tree to hold the whole thing together. Now it is standing like it was before, with some of its spring growth on the top part, but I am doubtful this approach is going to help this tree very much. The point of the break has a shattered woody piece about and inch or so long, and I really doubt that's going to knit back together.

What should I do in hopes of saving this tree? Leave it like it is for a while, maybe cut back the leafy branchings at the top? Or cut it off below the break, as if pollarding, and hope it puts out new growth?

Most expensive tree I had in my garden, and it had to be that one he hit.

My impression is that it will be weak to resist wind and weight of any fruit for a few years but as new wood covers the break it should get stronger and when mature not much of a problem unless there is an opening through the bark allowing rot or larva to enter.

Hans Quistorff wrote:My impression is that it will be weak to resist wind and weight of any fruit for a few years but as new wood covers the break it should get stronger and when mature not much of a problem unless there is an opening through the bark allowing rot or larva to enter.

Thank you, Hans. I decided I'd better post a few close-up photos. The part where you see the exposed rough wood is where the break was, and the trunk is cracked in half above that.. I'm thinking it will probably never mend to the point that insects won't get in. See that photo with the little leaflet poking out from the trunk? That's down about 8 inches from the broken part. There is what looks like a good node above it that I think you can see. If I were to cut it now (as spring has just started to spring here) above where that node is, would it likely then branch from those points? If I do cut it, should I put anything on the cut itself to seal it since it's such a young tree? Or, like you suggest, leave it for a few years without doing anything to it and keep any fruit picked to prevent it from breaking the tree?

That is a bad break. You could let the top grow this season to strengthen the tree then cut it back next winter and develop that lower branch into anew leader. Observe how well it forms a callas ring of new bark around the break. The better that potential the better the expected outcome.

Hans Quistorff wrote:That is a bad break. You could let the top grow this season to strengthen the tree then cut it back next winter and develop that lower branch into anew leader. Observe how well it forms a callas ring of new bark around the break. The better that potential the better the expected outcome.

Breaks my heart. I'll try what you suggest, Hans. Maybe I'll wrap a few of those cloning ball things that I have around the break with some soil to try to protect it a little...

I did not think of that! If you get roots you get 2 trees.