Splitting the trunk on a blue spruce to correct reverse tape

[Reece]

Or you could just sell me the tree
Mo


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You obviously see something! I definitely think it has potential. Just need to find it.....

[vtbao]

Someone had done this in the past with juniper. Not sure if it works for Cedar.
Drill lots of holes around the base, it’ll heal quickly and create lumps. This is other method to thicken the trunk (?)

[MoGanic]

Or you could just sell me the tree
Mo


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You obviously see something! I definitely think it has potential. Just need to find it.....

Haha, yeah mate it does. Reverse taper actually isn't that bad really, and IMO can be corrected with patience and correct root pruning (takes a long time, but you get an amazing result instead of a risky result with lots of scars).

As for style, I'd be making the reverse taper less visible simply by tilting the tree to one side - the more the tilt, the bigger the base looks (it's an illusion but one that works damn well). Once it's tilted and growing strongly again I'd do a ground layer to create the new Nebari where it needs to be and this will also thicken the base once those roots start to grow out (think many bar branches/roots all at the one level and all pulling the base out year after year).

From my initial view on the trunk line and branching, I would say that with some serious bending, you could have a great shohin sized tree in time.

That's what I'd do anyway... if you sold me the tree... Muhuhahahaha!

Mo

[cre8ivbonsai]

Thread graft to create a sacrifice branch?

[Reece]

Wow so many options!

[treeman]

Should I be reading between the lines here?

No no! I have no idea if it's worth it. Having said that P pungens is very course and I have never seen a bonsai made from it.

I imagine the tree grows over the small wedges?

They usually rot away before that.

[Brian]

It was quite common to fix this problem many years ago by spiking the trunk. A few individuals in Melbourne pioneered this technique 30 years ago with great results.

Basically, drill a few dozen tiny holes into the bark with a 1mm drill. This injures the cambium and causes the trunk to swell and can correct the problem over time.