AusBonsai

These are 3 Dawn Redwoods that i purchased as tube stock Back in 2009 i decided to slash 1 trunk , slash and split 1 trunk , then leave the other untouched after growing them on with all the same care the results are shown here as the differences between the methods after basically 3 years since the experiment was started , this is the results , the largest based trunk had a slight disadvantage over the others as it was in the smallest pot last season . While all the tree's were fertilized with the same amount of ferts they were also grown in a wet bed so any uptake of water was of the same quality as in fertilizer run off . All tree breached the pot bases appox' the same amount . I don't believe the biggest trunk had been disadvantage a great deal in the smaller diameter oval pot .While the camera does show the measurement lesser than i have stated the tape is true and correct , the diameter of the trunks make it difficult to get the tape and tooth picks lined up for such a close up shot . I thought of putting the vernier on them , but i not here to bull shari you folk .

This is actually the trunk i'm after the foliage will come but they have been trimmed and chop topped basically all the same every years including the root pruning to keep them as balanced in root mass as possible . I know i'm more than happy with the results and yes it does make for a completely different base . Now i will rip into the foliage department and begin the re-building of the basic struture for my future Redwoods .

Thanks to Bougy Fan i have 5 seed grown swamp cypress plants possibly from last season and i will definitely slash and split all of them and plant them in some big pots and do it all again , only i will have some bigger unhindered results hopefully over half the time as the Swampies will no doubt out grow the Reddies .

Cheers Alpineart

Hi Alpine, I really like Dawn Redwoods and they are my favourite of the three species commonly refered to as Redwoods.
This is the inspiration I need to finally go and get me some tubestock.
I am impressed with the growth you have after a few years
I am familiar with what you mean by "slashing", but could you please explain what you mean by splitting?...do you mean cutting the base of the trunk from underneath the roots and wedging it apart to increse basal flare??
Thanks for explaining it for me.
Cheers, Dario.
All the best for 2013!

Hi Dario , i too prefer these Dawns over all the others . When the stock is young 10-12 mm , using the point of a sharp knife and split the base from underneath very gently as they may be 12mm thick on the outside but there is only 6-8mm of softwood inside . I split in a 3 way section "pie shaped" and up the trunk about twice the thickness of the trunk and insert a small pebble about 4-5mm into the center of the 3 way split . Then slash the bark down to the wood 50mm up the bark at the same point the split is in . Then slice/slash the bark 100mm up the trunk in between the 50mm slices/slashes so you don't end up with a uniform slashed base .

With the smaller trunks its like surgical precision as you can slice off a section and bugger the plant . You could wait for the trunk to get to 15-20mm to make it easier . The following season split the 3 way pie cut base in the middle making for a 6 way pie cut shaped base , this time exceed the first split by say 10mm and insert a 2-3mm pebble . Now using the sharp knife extend the slash marks in reverse , by that i mean the 50mm slices are extended to 150mm and the 100mm slash marks up to 150mm now we have the slashes uniform in height .So you extend the shorter slash twice as long and the longer slash half as long .

Now if you wanted to you could continue this process for another season but i have seen the results as shown here and most would be happy with just doing this twice . Old timers like Ted had many species with numerous methods used but a lot of young blokes think the method was about "yanking their chain" , you can spike , slash , split , bruise the bark on most tree's and it will have an effect . Most expect a result in 6-12 months that's why they rarely use it because they try once , dont see a result and give up , it take a season or 6 as in the case of the reverse taper on my Pinus Nigra recently posted .I have its sister tree here i will post it up along side it with a pic of a reverse taper untreated for the same period . Here are the pics of the Redwoods on the 18 /11 /2010 As the pics show the bases will swell somewhat untreated but not to the extent of a slashed trunk or a split and slashed trunk . I would like to see these result repeated but this time in the ground , i can only imagine the size of the trunks . A n old timer once told me the bark works like a tourniquet release the tourniquet and watch them grow , slashing releases the pressure of the bark around the base and does make for bigger flares and does repair reverse tapers .I recall reading one of John Naka's books not long ago , "i must return them to the rightful owner" makes reference to this however most old time Japanese Masters frowned on the idea of tampering with the bark so they say ?, however they ground grew or grow for several generation or used 200-300 yo yamadori for Bonsai so they don't tell too much about the methods they employ , all "hush hush".

Hope this helps convince some to rethink idea's and methods and employ them for themselves . "You can teach a Parrot to talk , but you first must have walked the walk" the proof is in the pudding so to speak .

Dario hope this helps mate and all the best to you too in the New Year .

Cheers Alpine

Thank you Alpine...now I get it.
This info is great and I appreciate the detail of the procedure
I will try this for sure as your results are impressive!
Is it best to start this work in late winter early spring?
Cheers, Dario.
Hope the pain is easing a little. All the best

Hi Dario , mate late winter is the best time , i did do a couple out of season , dead ducks in no time , redwoods that is . Mate pain free just a pain in the ass to the wife cos i want it now , reno's done , gardens referbished , fencing , painting and most of all a job .

Cheers Alpineart