AusBonsai

I had this $5 radiata pine sitting around. I had chopped it earlier in the year and it was intresting to see it back bud and keep growing but It was still pretty boring and crappy material.
I decided to have a bit of fun taking a wedge out of the trunk and put some movement in there. I think that small shoot on the left in the last picture may be the future for this cheap stock From what I can see the root base is pretty good which is surprising the way this tree started life.
I have a few boring Junipers that I would like to try this with as well.

Nice work, it looks so much better than the straight trunk. Is it growing fast enough at this time of year to heal over quickly? Any need for cut paste to seal it up? or glue to stick it strongly?

Hi Neal
I am sure there are better times of the year I could have done this but the tree is growing strongly and it hasn't cooled of here yet so we will see how long it takes to set. My only worry is that it would outgrow the wire before it set making more work for me having to rewire

The pine has plenty of it's own sap to ward of any parasites so I don't think there is any need to seal it up. I have done this with branches before and have had no need for glue but if you find a need or use for glue then I don't see any reason not to use it
There are many ways to do things. As Big George says. Whatever works

OMG!! magiks!

Hi Asus
You still here.I thought you had joined the Forien Legion

Bretts wrote:Hi Asus
You still here.I thought you had joined the Forien Legion

Erm.... hell no.. damn cheese eating surrender monkey's

Asus101 wrote:

Bretts wrote:Hi Asus
You still here.I thought you had joined the Forien Legion

Erm.... hell no.. damn cheese eating surrender monkey's

LOL

Nice work Brett, You been taking lessons from me
I at least use harder trees to work with! ( azalea anyone).

If you need to rewire, you may want to put a wire from teh top of the tree down to the roots. Pull tight to hold it

Ken

Hi Brett
How far have you gone with cutting out a wedge (how deep ?) I tried this method to give some movement to a bougy I have, but cut too deep and it died off above. It still lives and I have restyled the new canes growing, so it wasn't a total disaster.

Tony

Hi KC I do have some memory of your Azalea now. Don't be upset I have a memory like a sieve. God help me when I get old
I was about to tie the tree to the pot or something but had a flash of memory that the broken branch bender would work. I might try something like that with the juni that I want to do it too.
I am already thinking this needs it done again a bit lower (turn 90 deg). I might do this to all my crap stock.

Hi Bougy
I was planning on going deeper with this but it looked like it would bend so felt it was enough. You can see with the first pic that I went about 1/2 way through. There are many techniques where there is little but a wisp of live tissue left so maybe look at the species or health if you are having issues?

It is a neat trick but has its drawbacks. If you remember we had a thread on this a while ago and i have done this a few times. The problem is it nearly always creates a lip where the cambium joins up. it creates a swelling at that point like a pair of lips. i have a Douglas Fir that was done 5 years ago and instead of blending in it is becoming more pronounced. i will probably have to carve it. Keep us posted with this one Bretts, i will be interested if you beat the odds.

Hi Bodi
I missed that thread any hints on where it might be? I have had little issue when doing this with branches but this is the first time I have done it to the trunk so I will have to wait and see. It is a good point. My thought was this tree has alot of growing to go so any issue will heal over. As you say a little carving of scar tissue might help?

I will be sure to keep you posted

I will have to get my crap juni out to see what happens to them.

Bretts wrote:Hi Bodi
I missed that thread any hints on where it might be? I have had little issue when doing this with branches but this is the first time I have done it to the trunk so I will have to wait and see. It is a good point. My thought was this tree has alot of growing to go so any issue will heal over. As you say a little carving of scar tissue might help?

I will be sure to keep you posted

I will have to get my crap juni out to see what happens to them.

Azalea..bend a large trunk..by K.c poole october 2009. is there an easier way to lead you to it?

Thanks Bodi I did not realise you meant the same thread as KC's
Here it is here
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=2484&hilit

Any chance of an update KC ?