AusBonsai

Hi blkrota...If you're heading down the path of sealing the scarred area with hardener,make sure you clear out all the rotted wood ,and also carve some sort of drainage path,so water can't lie there...I saw an old trunk chop wound in a bougie,backfilled with ordinary cement,the other day! It blended in pretty well but I don't know what the long term outcome would be...has anyone else seen/attempted that sort of repair? ... ....Dog.

Hi,blkrota.
I think your Liquidambar should be fine as you found out the problem and got it fixed early.
That surely is a nice tree with good taper. What are you planning to do with it?
Do you think this one can be trained in broom style? If so you can cut a V shape through the hollow top there,and wound-seal it.
( i remember a thread where Jamie do the same to his celtis )
My L.ambar just lost its last leaf yesterday as winter is approaching in Sydney, so i don't think its the ants'fault in your case
Cheers,
Thuy

.... its soaking in very weak coffee water mix now, Alot of ant have scrambled for ther life to the surface, Then only to be squished.
I will take it out soon, then dunk it in some fresh water and weak seasol mix to rid the coffee.

Don't worry, the coffee won't do your tree any harm. Next time you have some left over coffee grounds, spread them onto the soil as a precaution. The principle with combating ants is to use acidic stuff, they hate acids that clash with their own (formic acid), if you'll pardon this amateurish way of expressing the phenomenon. For instance, if you have ants infesting your kitchen, wipe the affected surfaces with vinegary water, they'll disappear in no time flat. With ants on plants, as said earlier, it's a matter of finding out why they are there, and treat the cause.

Best wishes,

Lisa

Hi Lisa, coffee grounds are hard to come by as now one in the house drinks it , But yes i have heard of people using it a s fert, I had to use instant nescafe stuff as thats all i could find, The tree will never sleep through winter now now lol.

i will try the vinegar out the front on a large nest that we can not get rid of. thanks

If so you can cut a V shape through the hollow top there,and wound-seal it.

That is a better idea as i was only going to do one side or a drainage hole, The V will enable be to get to it and be 100%.
Cheers
Adam

So i could'nt wait for the tree to rot any longer so i decided to do a small carve at the back to see how far down the rotting has gone. I was told on Ab to wait until august / november but it will just get worse. Also i am keeping the tree out of the rain for the winter.
Also did a trip bunnings and bought Earls wood hardener as everyone has suggested and painted it on with a small paintbrush. Does this stuff work in the bedroom too
Anyway here are some pics of my noobish work, Oh and sorry for the dark photos i couldnt get the cam to focus down into the trunk and i cabt lighten them on windows 7 paint (must DL photoshop) .

Is ther anything else i can do or done differently ?
Thanks again for all the help guys
Cheers
Adam

adam

does the carving have an area where water can pool? if so it will continue to rot, you might need to take it down a little further so it has a downhill slope so the water can run out.

earls wood hardener works on any wood that needs preserving..

Adam, carving looks really great ^^ What Jamie said.

Howdy, Not realy its kind of flat at the bottom so i will make the exit 1cm lower than the inside of the hollow tomorrow.
I will not let it rain on the tree at all this winter i will just keep and eye on it.

Is that too much carving for this time of year?, It should be sweet tho.

As long as you keep the wound dry it should be right, it will take a little longer to heal over the cool months though.

Someone mentioned honey as a sealant too? I wonder if it'd be effective on LA?

Honey ay,

I have the paiste and putting should i put one over once the hardener drys?

Just clear a drainage channel and gloop the wood hardener all over. 2 coats as well.

Cheers buddaboy, Will do.

Craigw60 said in a topic i just found "when to do carving" that it is not wise to carve on a LA, but he did not mention using Earls woody.

Finished off the carving for better drainage and found some more rot on the side, So i tended to that aswell.
One coat of Earls wood hardener has been applied so far.

nice little carve if it were mine id loose that thick back branch at the top its too upright and wont bend well id use a smaller one below it and grow it on

dayne wrote:nice little carve if it were mine id loose that thick back branch at the top its too upright and wont bend well id use a smaller one below it and grow it on

Hi Dayne, I do need to cut one of the top branches.
The carving is at the back of the tree so the branch your talking about would be up front, Does thing change your opinion, I am still unsure what i will do as im just trying to get the tree stable and healthy atm.

let me know
Cheers