Is This Salvageable?

[SwampCat]

Brand new June Gold peach tree. Was putting in a limb spreader and split the main crotch. Can I salvage - and best method - or just go ahead and cut off right fork?

 

[Native Hunter]

Sure, just tape it up with some electrical tape and by the end of the season it should be healed back. You might want to put something like a piece of thin plastic between the tape and bark to keep the tape from sticking to the bark.

 

[Mortenson]

Or just use the non sticky side of the electrical tape. That's how I do it for grafts.

 

[Barndog56]

I'm guessing that's pretty low on the trunk, where it would have to support lots of weight during fruiting years? If that's the case it will probably always need some extra support even after it heals. As such I'd probably remove it and notch buds where I want branches. And try and spread future branches earlier.