Cleaning juniper bark ?

[Paulneill]

Hi . Today a bought an impressive juniper from bonsai south . I attempted to clean up the bark by striping to old stuff away with a knife and tooth brush the bark is a beautyful red colour .only thing is I'm afraid of is removing too much and damaging the live wood which I think I may have already done . Any pointers would be great.it's hard to tell what's bark in what the live vane.?

[Jamie]

hi mate,

the flakey old bark will come off easy showing the nice red colour. if you hit the cambium you will know as it will be green under the bark.

[Andrew E]

As Jamie has said the cambium will be green under the bark. The dead areas of the trunk will have a 'shrunken' look to them compared to the live vein which will look 'plump' when compared. Just don't rub too hard with the toothbrush after peeling off the flakey bark.
Andrew

[Paulneill]

Thanks guys . i have been researching the subject . In some instances people use sand paper on the live bark. I thought this was going to be easy but as I clean the bark it is not coming away easy. I have got it to come up a nice red colour in some areas and other areas are proving to be difficult .

Does anyone know what is used to polish the bark after it's clean also any one used sand paper on it ?

[Rowdy]

I have never cleaned a Juniper, but i did see some tips in this series
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=8698
i think in Video 4 and maybe also an earlyer one.

[Paulneill]

Thanks rowdy . I have already watched this one . I love there videos on u tube hope they keep making them . Yea in episode 3 it shows the young American working on a juniper and he said he uses low grade sand paper to smooth the live vein after removing the flakey bark with a knife. . I will try this today on a small section and see how it goes .

[Jamie]

so when do we get to see the juni!!!

[hugh grant]

yes lets see a pic!
Use very fine grain sand paper to rub the bark as this wont rip at the bark a damage it as long as you do it reasonably gently.

Hugh

[oscar1]

I agree with Jamie. I definitely wouldn't be using a knife, steel wool and an old tooth brush do a better job.
Besides you'll have a nice piney taste when you clean your teeth.

Oscar1

[Paulneill]

Hi .
got some pictures of my new juniper . I have attempted to clean the bark using a knife and brush but stopped in case i was doing damage to the live bark i have wired most of the branches apart from the apex and a few others that need serious bending or are going to jined also i have removed any weak buds branches and any foliage growing downwards. I am going to re pot this weekend
i would like some advise from you guys as this is the first time i have worked a tree like this.
The tree has not been styled yet i am waiting until i figure out what to do with the apex before i start bending
Species. juniper squata prostata (something like that)

Height.30 inch
trunk thickness at soil. 3 inch

Questions.

How do i safely remove the bark. and clean the trunk . as the bark does not peal easily ?

I want to remove soil and expose the trunk more . how much soil and roots can i remove from around the top .

Do you think i can get away with leaving it this height or does it need chopped to reduce height ?

[Paulneill]

Hi
Just reviving the post with new pictures

[Jamie]

hi mate

I would lower this tree a bit to bring it into balance regarding the height to the thickness. the apex section you havent work could make a nice smaller tree. with the amount of foliage on it it shouldnt take to long to layer.

[Paulneill]

I like your thinking jamie . I noticed in your pictures of trees you have one just like this . Have u still got it did u remove the bark?

[Craig]

Paul, i don't think you should be worried about cleaning the bark mate,

I would be thinking about creating a Shari first, then getting the tree's design right and maybe then once you get more experienced , you can clean the Bark,,

[Jamie]

I like your thinking jamie . I noticed in your pictures of trees you have one just like this . Have u still got it did u remove the bark?

hi mate, unfortunately no. they were some of the trees I lost in the floods.. will eventually get some more juni, will just take some time is all.

as craig said a shari will be good, just go slow and dont make it to big straight up. this can cause trouble with the flow of the tree. you have to give it time to divert sap flow