Medium swamp collected BCs

[Cajunrider]

In case you wonder 1 through 5 are all gone.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Hi @Cajunrider . Can I start carving the top of this tree now or should I wait till the branches on top are thicker? I didn't want to thread jack your Taxodium thread with silly noob questions. Not a recent pic, but perhaps you recognize it, the apex branches aren't as thick as I want them so not sure I can carve close to them. I'm going for a flat top, and I want to carve up the flat round top.

 

[Cajunrider]

Hi @Cajunrider . Can I start carving the top of this tree now or should I wait till the branches on top are thicker? I didn't want to thread jack your Taxodium thread with silly noob questions. Not a recent pic, but perhaps you recognize it, the apex branches aren't as thick as I want them so not sure I can carve close to them. I'm going for a flat top, and I want to carve up the flat round top.

View attachment 544223

I wait at least a few more weeks until the top leafed out fully and the sap really moving.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

I wait at least a few more weeks until the top leafed out fully and the sap really moving.

What about now Uncle C? I'm planning on using a hand saw, knob cutters and a carving knife to carve a "V" type pattern for a flat-top style. I don't have any cool power tools. Well I have a saws-all and a chain saw but no Dremel's or grinders.



My main concern is, are the branches on the top thick enough and if carving around them will do harm.

 

[Cajunrider]

What about now Uncle C? I'm planning on using a hand saw, knob cutters and a carving knife to carve a "V" type pattern for a flat-top style. I don't have any cool power tools. Well I have a saws-all and a chain saw but no Dremel's or grinders.

View attachment 547482

My main concern is, are the branches on the top thick enough and if carving around them will do harm.
View attachment 547488

Do it. Leave some margin of error. The V does not need to be deep now. What you want is a drop right at the edge of the scar roll so the scars grow down ward as they heal. Every few week carve a tiny bit more to keep the downward growth going.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Do it. Leave some margin of error. The V does not need to be deep now. What you want is a drop right at the edge of the scar roll so the scars grow down ward as they heal. Every few week carve a tiny bit more to keep the downward growth going.

Good idea, gradually carving. Thanks man!

 

[Cajunrider]

Good idea, gradually carving. Thanks man!

What you don’t want is for the scar on the top branch to grow right across. Take your permanent marker and map out your V then go down gradually. The heal is occurring only at the scar so total carve out is only for your enjoyment. If you are concerned about the health if the tree, do it slow.

PS: It is good that you give the tree extra soil up top for recovery from shipping. As the tree gets healthier, you may want to slowly remove it to reveal the flare. What you don’t want is for the tree to form another tier of high roots.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

What you don’t want is for the scar on the top branch to grow right across. Take your permanent marker and map out your V then go down gradually. The heal is occurring only at the scar so total carve out is only for your enjoyment. If you are concerned about the health if the tree, do it slow.

PS: It is good that you give the tree extra soil up top for recovery from shipping. As the tree gets healthier, you may want to slowly remove it to reveal the flare. What you don’t want is for the tree to form another tier of high roots.

This is my front which puts the scar on the left. Going gradually is a good move so I'll start with this. The tree seems really healthy I keep rubbing off little sprouts that come out from every where even from under neath the shedding bark.


Should I cut into the current scar on the left or go in front of it? Is that to much to take/carve in the first go? I'm probably going to try and save the branch on the top right i have the marker drawn up to it but I'll go around and try and keep it.


Notice my super accurate marker lines. Hope my carving isn't as bad. Close up of the front, and I didn't take a picture of the back.

 

[Cajunrider]

This is my front which puts the scar on the left. Going gradually is a good move so I'll start with this. The tree seems really healthy I keep rubbing off little sprouts that come out from every where even from under neath the shedding bark.
View attachment 547526

Should I cut into the current scar on the left or go in front of it? Is that to much to take/carve in the first go? I'm probably going to try and save the branch on the top right i have the marker drawn up to it but I'll go around and try and keep it.
View attachment 547527

Notice my super accurate marker lines. Hope my carving isn't as bad. Close up of the front, and I didn't take a picture of the back.

View attachment 547528

The lines look good. Cut right into the current roll by a tiny tiny bit to encourage even more response.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

The lines look good. Cut right into the current roll by a tiny tiny bit to encourage even more response.

Thanks CR! I'll post a pic after I'm done. What do you use to seal the wound? Should I just seal the outline of the carving?

I have this .Japanese Top Jin M Paste for Bonsai Tree Cut, Wound & Grafting Sealant - 200 g

And this. Shin Kiyonaru Kiyonal Cut Paste & Wound Sealer, I like this one better as the one above is rather runny.

 

[Cajunrider]

Thanks CR! I'll post a pic after I'm done. What do you use to seal the wound? Should I just seal the outline of the carving?

I have this .Japanese Top Jin M Paste for Bonsai Tree Cut, Wound & Grafting Sealant - 200 g
View attachment 547559
And this. Shin Kiyonaru Kiyonal Cut Paste & Wound Sealer, I like this one better as the one above is rather runny.
View attachment 547566

Any of those is fine.
For me I use this


One can is good for 15-20 BCs.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

PS: It is good that you give the tree extra soil up top for recovery from shipping. As the tree gets healthier, you may want to slowly remove it to reveal the flare. What you don’t want is for the tree to form another tier of high roots.

I'm trying to picture this but I'm not sure what it would look like. I cleaned up the soil a bit and 1/8 of an inch down I was finding all kinds of white roots that looked like they are headed up towards the heavens.

 

[Cajunrider]

I'm trying to picture this but I'm not sure what it would look like. I cleaned up the soil a bit and 1/8 of an inch down I was finding all kinds of white roots that looked like they are headed up towards the heavens.

You just don’t want root coming out of the trunk above the current roots.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Well here it is before I put the cut paste on.


I had to cut the back branch off that I wanted to keep. There's more coming soon.


You can see where I nicked the old scar here.


Here's most of the tools I used. I tried not to leave big gouges with the carving tools. I used a bigger hand saw & my drill with a wood carving paddle attachment to get started (not pictured)
I carved with the wood handle tools quite a bit, it should look roughed up a bit a guess. Not bad attempt as I've never done that before I'll let it heal a bit and go from there.



Thanks a lot @Cajunrider I really appreciate all the advice & experience you share.

 

[Cajunrider]

This is my front which puts the scar on the left. Going gradually is a good move so I'll start with this. The tree seems really healthy I keep rubbing off little sprouts that come out from every where even from under neath the shedding bark.
View attachment 547526

Should I cut into the current scar on the left or go in front of it? Is that to much to take/carve in the first go? I'm probably going to try and save the branch on the top right i have the marker drawn up to it but I'll go around and try and keep it.
View attachment 547527

Notice my super accurate marker lines. Hope my carving isn't as bad. Close up of the front, and I didn't take a picture of the back.

View attachment 547528

Forgot to mention that the right side should be carve down until the top of the low branch is exposed like the branch on the left. This is to start the scar roll downward.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

You just don’t want root coming out of the trunk above the current roots.

That makes sense. I've only seen BC in the wild a handful of times, don't believe I ever noticed/saw that.

 

[Cajunrider]

That makes sense. I've only seen BC in the wild a handful of times, don't believe I ever noticed/saw that.

Here is an example of pig tail high roots

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Forgot to mention that the right side should be carve down until the top of the low branch is exposed like the branch on the left. This is to start the scar roll downward.

Sorry, I've licked a lot of windows on the short bus of life, & I want to ensure we're on the same page. Are you saying carve down to this branch?

 

[Cajunrider]

Sorry, I've licked a lot of windows on the short bus of life, & I want to ensure we're on the same page. Are you saying carve down to this branch?

View attachment 547609

Just this little bit for now. But that down low branch is definitely a potential future target. Lots of time I did a V and formed an even flat top then later decided to carve down and have the lesser side started a bit lower.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Just this little bit for now. But that down low branch is definitely a potential future target. Lots of time I did a V and formed an even flat top then later decided to carve down and have the lesser side started a bit lower.
View attachment 547613

I'll have to do that tomorrow. It started raining so I put everything away. Thanks again CR.