AusBonsai

Hi all.

I have a bit of a beginner question that I wanted to find out. When you do a trunk chop into a new leader (slanted chop), does that trunk chop wound area thicken up as you grow a new leader. In other words does the cambium there get restored and it starts to add layers as the new leader is grown freely?

Thanks

Daniel

Generally when you chop something you carve out the wound (create a slight hollow ) to allow the bark to grow back flat. Other wise you end up with a big lump. It is best to seal any wound to prevent the cambium layer drying out. Once the wound has healed it will grow the same as the rest of the trunk. Hope that helps.

Josh

I'm not certain what you are asking Daniel but wounds slowly heal over. the cambium and bark grow in from the sides and eventually cover the exposed wood. After that the tree adds new layers as normal.
As Josh points out, wounds tend to heal with a thicker than normal layer and will bulge out a bit if the cut is flat or a bit high so large cuts are usually hollowed slightly so when it is healed it will look flat.

Let us know if that does not answer the question clearly.

shibui wrote:I'm not certain what you are asking Daniel but wounds slowly heal over. the cambium and bark grow in from the sides and eventually cover the exposed wood. After that the tree adds new layers as normal.
As Josh points out, wounds tend to heal with a thicker than normal layer and will bulge out a bit if the cut is flat or a bit high so large cuts are usually hollowed slightly so when it is healed it will look flat.

Let us know if that does not answer the question clearly.

Thank you, you special people

That exactly answers my question. Whew. Just wanted to know that the accidentaly carve into the leader top pic would heal over and still thicken, as otherwise there would not be a natural transition.

Here's a couple of pics of the chop I was talking about:

Tree: Japanese Maple
Current Season: End of Spring/Beginning of Summer
Time of Trunk Chop: Straight chopped around bud break. Carved to new leader 2nd Month of Spring.

Any further advise is welcome. It was my first trunk chop, so be gentle lol

Hi source,
Your cut still looks a little to flat. The photo below is what the boys are talking about. Hollow out a little.

I hope the photo what we mean.
Regards Ray

I also nibble away at the sides when you are looking straight on at the cut to help it blend in. Eventually the trunk grows on and the wound can disappear over time or become acceptable looking.

Another way to do it that you might want to try is the "Van Meer" technique. Haven't tried this yet myself but looking at it soon.

Basically it's hollowing out the cut but leaving a tab of the bark/cambium to help cover the cut which should reduce healing time & present a better looking result.

Cheers

Ray M wrote:Hi source,
Your cut still looks a little to flat. The photo below is what the boys are talking about. Hollow out a little.

I hope the photo what we mean.

carving-2.jpg

Regards Ray

Hi Ray

I think I'm still a bit confused. Must I only hollow out the edges and leave the middle concave? I tried to follow this article viewtopic.php?f=7&t=8312.

I don't understand if I am supposed to carve the entire wound so its convex (hollow) or shape it so it forms a kind of concave shape?

Thanks

I think I'm still a bit confused. Must I only hollow out the edges and leave the middle concave? I tried to follow this article viewtopic.php?f=7&t=8312.

I don't understand if I am supposed to carve the entire wound so its convex (hollow) or shape it so it forms a kind of concave shape?

Hi Source,
I have added a photo. If you think of a saucer, it has a shallow concave shape. Carve out the cut in this fashion. If you are wondering why the Alfoil. I put this on the saucer to try and emphasis the shape. Hope this may make a little more sense.
Regards Ray

There may be some confusion with the terms. Concave is lower in the middle (think of a cave - it goes down in the centre) Convex is higher in the centre.

Here are some pics of a small trident that has had a trunk chop and I have ben growing a new leader. The cut is only small so it was not hollowed out. It has only just started to grow over but will heal completely in time. These pics show that the new leader will thicken to match the old trunk below it. Maybe that helps?