Collected Acer circinatum

[0soyoung]

Mine is the end of a branch that has a thread graft (running down and to the right in the pic) from a couple of years ago. I cut the end you see this spring so that carbs and auxin from the thread (which has foliage) can supply the cambium ring that is growing.

Basically, these things flow downward, so not much is going to happen in your case, because all the branches (with foliage) are below the trunk chop you made. Getting stuff (carbs and auxin) up there depends upon there being enough phloem pressure. Maples don't do this well and their phloem pressure drops radically over winter --> hence it will die back during winter. But, after you've recut the trunk next year (as we have suggested you do), you should see similar progress 'healing' the chop.


It does look like you've got some new buds = good!!

 

[Cruiser]

Mine is the end of a branch that has a thread graft (running down and to the right in the pic) from a couple of years ago. I cut the end you see this spring so that carbs and auxin from the thread (which has foliage) can supply the cambium ring that is growing.

Basically, these things flow downward, so not much is going to happen in your case, because all the branches (with foliage) are below the trunk chop you made. Getting stuff (carbs and auxin) up there depends upon there being enough phloem pressure. Maples don't do this well and their phloem pressure drops radically over winter --> hence it will die back during winter. But, after you've recut the trunk next year (as we have suggested you do), you should see similar progress 'healing' the chop.


It does look like you've got some new buds = good!!

That’s interesting. I wasn’t aware that a cut below existing foliage would heal faster, but it makes sense. More flow=More grow.

So with your maple, did you make the thread graft in anticipation of cutting a larger branch at that site and having it heal faster, then removing the graft? Or was the decision based more on having a smaller branch there instead?
What I’m wondering is if it ever makes sense to thread graft near a large cut just to help it heal better.

 

[AcerAddict]

Great looking trunk on that thing! I love how in the 1st picture, the dog is like "That was a bold move, Cotton. Let's see if it works out for him."

 

[Cruiser]

Great looking trunk on that thing! I love how in the 1st picture, the dog is like "That was a bold move, Cotton. Let's see if it works out for him."

Thanks. She was hinting that she wanted butt scratches. She’s also a very judgmental dog. I’m just hoping the tree will live up to her standards.

 

[0soyoung]

So with your maple, did you make the thread graft in anticipation of cutting a larger branch at that site and having it heal faster, then removing the graft? Or was the decision based more on having a smaller branch there instead?
What I’m wondering is if it ever makes sense to thread graft near a large cut just to help it heal better.

Your thinking of using 'sacrificial grafts' to 'heal' big wounds is a good one, even though not what I'm doing with my tree.

My tree had a large branch that I needed to bud and send out a side branch so that I could remove the 'eye poker' part of the original. I could never get that budding to happen so I affected a thread graft instead to get that side branch. Then, I cut off the eye poker just like one prunes back to a branch to make movement in a stem.

This is my tree (at the start of this season) with the arrow pointing to what I photographed previously (viewing down on the cut, pretty much from that angle).

The circumstance with my tree is analogous to yours if you cut the trunk as @leatherback suggested. The vertical branch on yours would be the analog of my thread graft.

 

[Cruiser]

Your thinking of using 'sacrificial grafts' to 'heal' big wounds is a good one, even though not what I'm doing with my tree.

My tree had a large branch that I needed to bud and send out a side branch so that I could remove the 'eye poker' part of the original. I could never get that budding to happen so I affected a thread graft instead to get that side branch. Then, I cut off the eye poker just like one prunes back to a branch to make movement in a stem.

This is my tree (at the start of this season) with the arrow pointing to what I photographed previously (viewing down on the cut, pretty much from that angle).
View attachment 391994
The circumstance with my tree is analogous to yours if you cut the trunk as @leatherback suggested. The vertical branch on yours would be the analog of my thread graft.

Clever. That’s a nice looking maple. At a glance I wouldn’t have assumed that branch grew in such a way. Thanks for the examples.

 

[Cruiser]

Another rescued vine maple..
I think this one has nice nebari potential.

The tree came out easily.
I put the root mass in wet plastic bags then put it in a makeshift sling made of a bedsheet. Then carried the sling on my shovel, over my shoulder, hobo style.
The pack out was a slog… 1/2 mile of bush-whacking and 3 stream crossings
Hopefully the jostling around didn’t damage the roots too much.

Once home, the tree was put into a 15 gal pot with basic potting soil mixed with a bit of its native soil. Instead of covering the chop with aluminum tape, I opted for cut paste this time.

 

[AcerAddict]

I know why you put cut paste on the trunk of this one. You had no aluminum tape left after covering all those holes in the pot with mesh.

 

[Cruiser]

I know why you put cut paste on the trunk of this one. You had no aluminum tape left after covering all those holes in the pot with mesh.

Ha! I was feeling lazy and didn’t want to wire in the mesh! The aluminum tape actually took longer..

 

[Cruiser]

Update:
The 1st vine maple seems to be recovering nicely. It sprouted from the trunk and from the long branches that had shed leaves following the collection. The aluminum tape is lifting along one edge. Sprouts are popping through a seam in the tape. A few of the leaves have a whitish film on them. Something of concern?

The second collected vine maple also recovered, though not as vigorously. It was collected later, so no surprise there. Buds are popping through the putty.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Yeah, I see what you mean with the edges. Thanks for the reference. Was it cut this season? It seems like good progress.

I checked on the vine maple today. The cut is still pretty flat underneath the tape. All the foliage has dried out but the stems are still healthy looking. Do these look like new buds emerging?

Indeed.

 

[Cruiser]

Late spring ‘22 update:
Lots of good growth. The tree seems happy. Dr earth 5-5-5 granular fertilizer was administered in April.
The largest branch at the top is going to be the new leader. It’s long, 8ish feet. I’m going to keep it that way for now to help thicken it quicker then cut it back to a foot or so. It may be a while.
It is hard to tell how well the chop from last year is healing.

 

[Cruiser]

The edges will start to rise above the level in the center (which is just wood).

However, even if it does, the trunk is likely to die back to a line between the highest branches below. You should notice the bark having withered near the cut by next spring. You will then (next spring) want to cut away the trunk above this line and seal that ring of cambium. Then, after a year or two you will see the lip raise.

Such a colossal wound nay never be grown over, but the key will be vigorous growth of the uppermost branch. Stylistically, the front of the future bonsai should be opposite, so that it is in back. If it is a bit to the side, the edge(s) will appear as taper into that uppermost branch (now becoming the next trunk segment).

Is it too late in the season to cut away the trunk to the line you suggested? I forgot to get to it earlier.
The tree has been growing nicely. The trunk did not die back much and has branches growing near the cut. It would be nice to create some taper in line with the dominant top branch…

 

[0soyoung]

No, not too late. Alternatively, you could wait until next spring before all those leaves are out, just because it is easier to see what you're doing. But now is fine.

 

[Cruiser]

Thanks Oso. I’ll post updates when the deed is done.

 

[Cruiser]

Update

 

[Cruiser]

No healing took place underneath the aluminum tape. It was applied approximately 11 months ago. There were no branches positioned higher up than the cut on the trunk.

A new trunk cut was made to create taper with the highest branch. The wound is beneath and to the side of it. Another smaller branch is positioned near its edge as well. Cut paste was applied this time.
The wound is very large but I am hopeful it will callous over in years time.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Late spring ‘22 update:
Lots of good growth. The tree seems happy. Dr earth 5-5-5 granular fertilizer was administered in April.
The largest branch at the top is going to be the new leader. It’s long, 8ish feet. I’m going to keep it that way for now to help thicken it quicker then cut it back to a foot or so. It may be a while.
It is hard to tell how well the chop from last year is healing.

Success! And love Bristlecone.

 

[Cruiser]

Haha I knew you’d notice it!

I’ll have more interesting bristlecone pics to share eventually…

 

[Cruiser]

New foliage is emerging along the edge of the cut opposite the leader. Where it was needed.
There’s now branching along four sides of the wound. Hopefully it will speed callousing.