[Justniv]

Hi everyone,
my attempt to prevent ants from taking over the mandarin tree (with aphids) went bad. I tried to block their way with Petroleum jelly - "VASELINE", one year ago..maybe two. And today when I looked at the trunk were the petroleum was, it looks terrible - check the pics-

What should I do ??

[Yorkie]

How healthy is the tree itself?  Are there lots of leaves and is fruit coming?

It's amazing how much trunk damage a tree can sustain before there is a major impact on it.  However, if the outer layer of the bark is removed around the whole tree, this can kill the tree off - so make sure the damage does not go all the way round, I'd suggest.

[Justniv]

In general the tree looks good, gives a lot of fruits so far. But i'm affraid the trunk will break and the whole thing collapses.
Is there anything to do?

[Yorkie]

Glad to hear it's looking OK at the moment.

I'm no expert so don't want to be dishing out any further advice, but it might help others if you posted a picture of the whole tree, so they can see how top-heavy it is or isn't.

[arh]

Personally, if you put the jelly on last year and it's fruiting well this year, I'd splint it to  give it some strength for a year or so, and hope that it comes good.

[8doubles]

It looks chewed to me !

[Justniv]

here is 2 pics of the whole tree-

By the way, i think ants going inside the burk...in the hole/crack...

[Featherstone]

There doesn't seem to be any other concern so I would do as already mentioned and put a splint/ support in to take some of the weight/ pressure off the trunk whilst it heals etc. The other option is to do a bridging graft - so should that section give up you will still have sap flow going through.

[Justniv]

support in to take some of the weight/ pressure

OK, I'll try this.
Thank you very much everyone !