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The following is another post from the old thread:
Sorry I don't have any pics to show right now, but I wanted to give an update.
The tree started sprouting buds everywhere within a week of the "surgery." I rubbed out every bud that wasn't growing where I wanted it, but left buds on the sides and, occasionally, the top of branches, and around the wounds to accellerate healing. In places, one "bud" created up to 5 new branches, so I had to do some thinning.
Between 3 and 4 weeks after I rehabbed the tree, the wire started cutting in, so I removed it. I had to be very careful, as the new branches were quite fragile and broke off easily (I lost one or two). I left the tree without wire for a few weeks, partly because I didn't want to break off any more branches, partly to let the tree regain some strength (like it needed it), and mostly because I didn't have time (work and headaches).
Yesterday I had some pain-free time available, and worked on this and a few other trees (thank goodness--they needed it desperately). My main issue was to improve the nebari. The tree had only 3 surface roots, plus about 1 1/2 inches of trunk below that, where more roots came off. I'm trying to reduce that part of the tree gradually, but I have to take my time until the surface rootage is sufficient to sustain growth.
Anyway, I took a few cuttings last year for this very use. I thread-grafted two into the base of the trunk flare. First I drilled a hole just slightly larger than the seedling, removed the leaves, and threaded it through. I sealed each side of the trunk, then repotted into a plastic grow-box. As the seedlings grow, they will fatten up and bond with the trunk cambium. Presto, new roots!
I'll try to get some pics up soon.
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Namaste,
--Scott ><>
"There seems to be no survivors to interview, but I suspect [kamikaze pilots] did not shout 'traytree' the moment before their personal sacrifice." --Herb Gustafson
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