MTM Bald Cypress progression thread

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

I've watched that video so many times I've lost count. Good stuff.

 

[WNC Bonsai]

I've watched that video so many times I've lost count. Good stuff.

I think there are about six in the entire series documenting the progression of the tree.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

I think there are about six in the entire series documenting the progression of the tree.

Correct. I should have said the series, and a great watch if anyone hasn't seen it. LINK The link is to the first video in the series.

That tree is in the collection of the arboretum in Asheville and I am pretty sure it was created by JohnG. I suggest you take a look at the multi-year flat top progression on his YouTube channel

I didn't know that. Nice. I'd love to see it in person.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

You still have a good 6 weeks of growth.
1. Chop the broken branch.
2. Move the wired lower branch to the up position. Give it a week to settle there.
3. Carve the trunk down carefully to create the roll lip for the lower branch.

Good plan. Looks like my Saturday plans unless I can get to it earlier. I did start moving the bigger branch up. I may need to take the current wire off and re-wire it.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

You still have a good 6 weeks of growth.
1. Chop the broken branch.
2. Move the wired lower branch to the up position. Give it a week to settle there.
3. Carve the trunk down carefully to create the roll lip for the lower branch.

Trying to game plan a bit before I continue the carving. I removed the broken top branch, and started bending the lower branch back up. It's wired for a downward bend so it was a careful upward bend. Now I'm trying to decide how far down I should carve.



You can see the wire biting in a bit on the poorly wired left branch. What do you think of this carving line? Too much or too little?

 

[Cajunrider]

Trying to game plan a bit before I continue the carving. I removed the broken top branch, and started bending the lower branch back up. It's wired for a downward bend so it was a careful upward bend. Now I'm trying to decide how far down I should carve.

View attachment 562824

You can see the wire biting in a bit on the poorly wired left branch. What do you think of this carving line? Too much or too little?
View attachment 562825

I would be a whole lot less aggressive. This carving line would close the bottom of the carve much much quicker.
The V cut on the trunk was done earlier to simulate a branch split. Here you naturally has a branch split. There is no need to carve a V.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

I would be a whole lot less aggressive. This carving line would close the bottom of the carve much much quicker.
The V cut on the trunk was done earlier to simulate a branch split. Here you naturally has a branch split. There is no need to carve a V.
View attachment 562826

Are you saying I shouldn't carve all the way through the trunk, and I should just carve a lip down to the branch for healing?

Like this?


Sorry. I've licked a lot of windows, and I have reading comprehension problems.

 

[Cajunrider]

Are you saying I shouldn't carve all the way through the trunk, and I should just carve a lip down to the branch for healing?

Yes.
For this case don’t carve a V into the trunk. Just carve the trunk on that side down to the branch and let it heal. Do it and you will see.

PS: If you still want to do the V you can do it later. You can’t undo the V once done.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

I would be a whole lot less aggressive. This carving line would close the bottom of the carve much much quicker.
The V cut on the trunk was done earlier to simulate a branch split. Here you naturally has a branch split. There is no need to carve a V.
View attachment 562826

Well I took all the wire off today, and carved a healing scar line. I didn't put cut paste on it yet as it started raining sideways & we're supposed to have storms on and off all day.

This is the back. I just cut a little off so the green was touching, you can see some of the wire bite here. I was thinking of cutting the top left apex in this pic down like a quarter of an inch but I'll wait for now.


Here's the front I think I screwed up. Take a look and LMK what you think.


I think I went to deep with the cut, and I messed up the bark on the branch I was carving when I gouged it pretty good. A couple of times I went to deep & didn't realize it till it was too late. Thoughts?

 

[Cajunrider]

Well I took all the wire off today, and carved a healing scar line. I didn't put cut paste on it yet as it started raining sideways & we're supposed to have storms on and off all day.

This is the back. I just cut a little off so the green was touching, you can see some of the wire bite here. I was thinking of cutting the top left apex in this pic down like a quarter of an inch but I'll wait for now.
View attachment 563152

Here's the front I think I screwed up. Take a look and LMK what you think.
View attachment 563153

I think I went to deep with the cut, and I messed up the bark on the branch I was carving when I gouged it pretty good. A couple of times I went to deep & didn't realize it till it was too late. Thoughts?
View attachment 563154

Leave everything be and put cut paste on the cuts. Let it heal for now.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Leave everything be and put cut paste on the cuts. Let it heal for now.

Okay. Thanks for all the help.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Leave everything be and put cut paste on the cuts. Let it heal for now.

So... how bad did I mess this up? Also do you have a ballpark guess of how old this tree may be?

 

[Cajunrider]

So... how bad did I mess this up? Also do you have a ballpark guess of how old this tree may be?

Nothing major. You just nicked it. It will heal no problem.

That tree was in deeper water and grew slowly. On land in natural settings without fertilizer a tree that size is 6-8 years old. In deep water it is easily 12-15 years old if not way more. It is hard to tell. I should have taken picture of the rings.

In a nursery a BC trunk that size is often just 4 years old. The telltale is a round trunk with no flute and hardly any base flare.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Nothing major. You just nicked it. It will heal no problem.

That tree was in deeper water and grew slowly. On land in natural settings without fertilizer a tree that size is 6-8 years old. In deep water it is easily 12-15 years old if not way more. It is hard to tell. I should have taken picture of the rings.

In a nursery a BC trunk that size is often just 4 years old. The telltale is a round trunk with no flute and hardly any base flare.

Thank you my friend. I'm lucky to have your guidance.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

@Cajunrider Few questions...

Should I nick the scar again this time of year?



Here's the side I messed up the carving on. It's healing up nice.


Should I be worried about the water freezing in the pot? I have two drainage holes on the side of the pot to let the BC sit in water.
Any overwintering advice? I was planning on leaving it outside, north side of the house, heeled in, and out of the wind.



Should I wire again in the winter?

 

[Cajunrider]

@Cajunrider Few questions...

Should I nick the scar again this time of year?

View attachment 571496

Here's the side I messed up the carving on. It's healing up nice.
View attachment 571497o

Should I be worried about the water freezing in the pot? I have two drainage holes on the side of the pot to let the BC sit in water.
Any overwintering advice? I was planning on leaving it outside, north side of the house, heeled in, and out of the wind.

View attachment 571495

Should I wire again in the winter?

Don’t nick the scar again until spring.

Drill holes on the side at the bottom to drain the pot before heeling it in with mulch.
Mulch layer should be thick for winter protection in your zone.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Don’t nick the scar again until spring.

Drill holes on the side at the bottom to drain the pot before heeling it in with mulch.
Mulch layer should be thick for winter protection in your zone.

I figured the scar nicking had to wait till spring. If the winter weather gets too cold (below zero) I'll bring it in the garage. Thanks Cajunrider you're always super helpful.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Fall 11/3/2024

 

[snowman04]

Are you leaving them outside for the winter?

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Are you leaving them outside for the winter?

Yes. No, them just this one. You have them. Northside of the house, out of the wind and direct sun, heeled in with muclh. If I see a long period of below zero I'll put in the garage.