Input on my deadwood find.

[GrimLore]

About anchoring the tree to the deadwood. Any suggestions about how to do this?

I am going to try to drag @Brian Van Fleet into this one. I am uncertain about using any screws to attach a Juniper but interested in his thoughts/experience. Many "say" steel and Junipers do not get along and I am honestly not certain if that is valid...

Grimmy

 

[Joe R]

I am going to try to drag @Brian Van Fleet into this one. I am uncertain about using any screws to attach a Juniper but interested in his thoughts/experience. Many "say" steel and Junipers do not get along and I am honestly not certain if that is valid...

Grimmy

Well since then I have put a few steel screws into a smaller juniper and it's not looking to great but that was more of an experiment. I gull we will see!

 

[GrimLore]

Well since then I have put a few steel screws into a smaller juniper and it's not looking to great but that was more of an experiment.

Experiments are ok, when shared we all learn from experience rather then those statements I have read from time to time. As for your plans I would try something different though. Consider routing out channels 1/2 the thickness of the branch being attached. Then strip the bark away that will be pressed into the channel... Wrap sections with rubber here and there to hold it in place and wrap the rubber with good tape tightly. That "should" cause the bark to heal but attach itself to the dead wood... If the plant is healthy and done early Spring I am pretty certain the following year the tape and rubber could be removed.

Grimmy

 

[Alain]

I am going to try to drag @Brian Van Fleet into this one. I am uncertain about using any screws to attach a Juniper but interested in his thoughts/experience. Many "say" steel and Junipers do not get along and I am honestly not certain if that is valid...

Grimmy

Normally, if it's very small stainless (it has to be stainless!) screw it should be fine as the screw is supposed to go thru all the living tissues up to the central deadwood part. It shoudn't be worse than using screws to make a points used to bend a trunk or something.
Anyway I'll try soon with my own attempt at tanuki, although the living tree I would like to use is a thuja and not a juniper.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I am going to try to drag @Brian Van Fleet into this one. I am uncertain about using any screws to attach a Juniper but interested in his thoughts/experience. Many "say" steel and Junipers do not get along and I am honestly not certain if that is valid...

Grimmy

I used the black drywall screws, right through the live tree into the deadwood. Never had a problem.
Just be sure to make the live tree follow the vein of the deadwood as best you can to help the illusion.

 

[M. Frary]

Staple gun.

 

[GrimLore]

I used the black drywall screws, right through the live tree into the deadwood. Never had a problem.
Just be sure to make the live tree follow the vein of the deadwood as best you can to help the illusion.
View attachment 103697

Thank you, I might add the plant must be healthy, and time of year is important or?

Grimmy

 

[LeonardB]

Hey New Joe R.

Usually...I guy with a bobcat and a 4 wheeler is out collecting LIVE trees!

At least, if I had a bobcat and a 4 wheeler
I would surely be digging live trees!

What gives!?

I'm just messing with you, but seriously!

Sorce

Sorce,
I use the winter house bound time to work on deadwood myself ( knowing that as soon as the spring arrives, I will be outdoors digging! ).
Leonard

 

[LeonardB]

I am going to try to drag @Brian Van Fleet into this one. I am uncertain about using any screws to attach a Juniper but interested in his thoughts/experience. Many "say" steel and Junipers do not get along and I am honestly not certain if that is valid...

Grimmy

Grimmy,
I've used brass screws or nails in the past to good results. Some of the drywall screws you mention have chemical coating that I wouldn't trust to a prized tree ( only to discover the chemical is caustic ).
Leonard

 

[sorce]

Sorce,
I use the winter house bound time to work on deadwood myself ( knowing that as soon as the spring arrives, I will be outdoors digging! ).
Leonard

It's like you knew I was thinking about how I wish you wouldn't earlier today!

Sorce

 

[LeonardB]

I used the black drywall screws, right through the live tree into the deadwood. Never had a problem.
Just be sure to make the live tree follow the vein of the deadwood as best you can to help the illusion.
View attachment 103697

Brian,
As a follow up I wanted to show you my two hopefuls for this year ( and the one looks surprisingly like yours! ).
Leonard

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Brian,
As a follow up I wanted to show you my two hopefuls for this year ( and the one looks surprisingly like yours! ).
Leonard

Looks like fun! Good luck with them. Good "adhesion" will be important.