sacrifice branches

Matthew · Post by **Matthew** » March 17th, 2012, 8:40 am

Thought id post some pics of a port jackson fig that ive had for 3 years from mojo. it was sent to rockhampton qld barerooted . it spent about a year in rocky where it grew very well as they do in central queensland than came done to ne vic for 2 years now. That sacrifice branch at the back is 1.3 metres tall and was started 2.5 years ago. that black pot is a 8 inch pot. tree was repotted about a month ago and has roots coming out of the bottom already! they grow slower done here but it has impressed me alot. I have just cut back all primary branches over the years to keep them from thickening too much and getting long and leggy. the sacrifice branch takes alot of energy away from the rest of the tree but when it comes off in a year or so it will power the over branches along. the tree has tripled in width over the last 2.5 years largely due to that branch. the scar is low and at the back so it will heal fine . this technique works on most species escially pines to develop a fat trunk. i have never trunk chopped this tree also. Its developing nice radial roots too. the tree height will be under 8 inches.

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Steve Warren · Post by **Steve Warren** » March 17th, 2012, 9:06 am

Hello Matthew,

I have some sacrifice branches on my figs, but nothing to rival that monster. I would not have thought to let them get that big, but it clearly works. Mine are only 4 mnths old. Looks like i will be leaving mine to get as big as yours if these are the results they produce. Thanks for posting as it has given me a new outloook. By the way I would love to see some pics of those other trees we can see. Looks like you have some nice trees there.

Regards

Steve W

Matthew · Post by **Matthew** » March 17th, 2012, 9:16 am

a black pine grown in the same way with a sacrifice about 10 feet tall. the stump will be removed or carved in time. base is 6 inches plus. the whole new tree was a young branches wired and grown from there. give it another 3 years and see how its goin

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Steve ill get more pics up this arvo too nice to be in here . let those sacrifices grow. i have a shohin crabapple in the ground with 3 sacrifices low and over 8 feet tall. base is 4 inches already a tree less than 8

Andrew F · Post by **Andrew F** » March 17th, 2012, 9:48 am

Wow, thats amazing. Look forward to seeing how that PJ turns out.

Post by **kcpoole** » March 17th, 2012, 10:08 am

I too will vouch for the good old Sacrifice branch.
I have a black pine in the ground ( 2 years now) with a long one on it.
I am planing on Lifting this year to inspect / Improve the Nebari and lower trunk. I will remove the sacrifice then as I am concerned with it developing reverse taper there as there are a few branches from the same spot.

PS the Tree was colander grown for 2 years from starter, and then put in the ground

Ken

Glenda · Post by **Glenda** » March 17th, 2012, 10:12 am

kcpoole wrote:I too will vouch for the good old Sacrifice branch.
I have a black pine in the ground ( 2 years now) with a long one on it.
I am planing on Lifting this year to inspect / Improve the Nebari and lower trunk. I will remove the sacrifice then as I am concerned with it developing reverse taper there as there are a few branches from the same spot.

PS the Tree was colander grown for 2 years from starter, and then put in the ground

Ken

Will you air layer off the long branch, Ken? Or is it truly a sacrifice?

Glenda

Post by **kcpoole** » March 17th, 2012, 12:58 pm

No just Cut it off and Chuck it.
No movement in it and not much in the way of positive attributes except thick

Ken

teamak · Post by **teamak** » March 17th, 2012, 1:14 pm

holy cow.

I had to re-read your entire first post matthew, then have another look at the photos. what an absolute monster. I wouldn't have thought letting it get that big was a good idea, but like someone has said, its obviously working. right. time to hit the books. again.

Bretts · Post by **Bretts** » March 17th, 2012, 5:05 pm

Comming up with some great work Mathew

Matthew · Post by **Matthew** » March 17th, 2012, 6:46 pm

Steve W wrote:Hello Matthew,

I have some sacrifice branches on my figs, but nothing to rival that monster. I would not have thought to let them get that big, but it clearly works. Mine are only 4 mnths old. Looks like i will be leaving mine to get as big as yours if these are the results they produce. Thanks for posting as it has given me a new outloook. By the way I would love to see some pics of those other trees we can see. Looks like you have some nice trees there.

Regards

Steve W

steve a few more of mine the slanting red pine needs a repot and complete reangle to make it literati but i have been spending the last 2 seasons just getting it back to health that i have achieved so this spring that will happen

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Mojo Moyogi · Post by **Mojo Moyogi** » March 18th, 2012, 12:33 am

Matthew wrote:Thought id post some pics of a port jackson fig that ive had for 3 years from mojo

Hi Matt, I like your work, can't remember exactly which tree this is, there were a few bare rooted and wrapped in sphagnum, packed in a cardboard box, is that tree one of those? I should have a before shot of that little fig somewhere, I'll try to track it down and post it on here.

Cheers,
Mojo

Matthew · Post by **Matthew** » March 18th, 2012, 1:11 am

Mojo Moyogi wrote:
Matthew wrote:Thought id post some pics of a port jackson fig that ive had for 3 years from mojo

Hi Matt, I like your work, can't remember exactly which tree this is, there were a few bare rooted and wrapped in sphagnum, packed in a cardboard box, is that tree one of those? I should have a before shot of that little fig somewhere, I'll try to track it down and post it on here.

Cheers,
Mojo

thats the one mate. One of 3 i think. the other two i sold at some point, glad i kept this one

craigw60 · Post by **craigw60** » March 18th, 2012, 7:11 am

Great work Matthew, most people tend to take a much too short term view of sacrifice branches and you have shown the advantages of leaving them on for a longer time. Some of mine stay on the trees for 5 years and upwards.
Craigw

cre8ivbonsai · Post by **cre8ivbonsai** » March 18th, 2012, 10:16 am

Hi Matthew, very interesting work, just wondering with a wound that big how will you prevent rot? My experience is that PJF don't heal over to well (down here), what treatment will you use post-chop? And will you cut flush or leave a knob? I look forward to seeing how you proceed!

Matthew · Post by **Matthew** » March 19th, 2012, 5:52 am

Ryan
will cut it back like i do decidious trees etc, use a concave cutter to spoon it out and seal with paste and putty. i have another few figs with large scars rolling over nicely. ill take a pic at sometime if you want to show . never had a issue with rot?

AusBonsai

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