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Making sharp bends in trunks and heavy branches
This
is without doubt the scariest technique I have ever used! You'd think the tree would surely die after this onslaught,
but I can safely say that I have used this technique many times and I have never lost a tree yet as a result.
Best
species are pines (no so much white pine), spruce, chamaecyparis, larch, ficus, bald cypress.... Not advisable
on junipers because of their reluctance to heal. Deciduous species tend to be too brittle, although this has been successfully
done (with difficulty) on hawthorn, trident maple and English elm.
Best time to do this is while the tree is vigorously
growing and the cambium activity is at its maximum - spring to early summer.
Decide where you want the bend,
and cut a narrow wedge out of the trunk or branch with a very sharp, fine saw. Make the wedge just over half way through.
You read it right - just over half way through! Keep the wedge fairly narrow - around thirty degrees. (I have
cut much wider wedges, but the risk of damage increases dramatically, and not all species are flexible enough to permit that
much damage.)
| Figure1 |
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(Fig. 1) Make the wedge symmetrical, so both sides are the same angle
and size, otherwise they will not meet perfectly when the gap is closed.
Use guy wires to bend the trunk or branch
until the two two sides of the wedge cut are pressed tightly together - very tightly. Important: plan carefully
the angles and anchoring points of the guy wires so the angle of tension is directly perpendicular to the wedge, otherwise
it will no close accurately. (Fig. 2)
| Figure 2 |
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Cover the cut with a sliver of cut paste (not the stuff in a tube - that'll stain the bark) and likewise any splits that
have appeared on the outside of the bend, where the tissues have been stretched.
The grafting process will begin almost
immediately, and should be completed by the end of the season. However, avoid the temptation to "test" the graft!! Even
if it has grafted, the tensions in the wood can be enough to rip it open again when the guys are released. Grit your
teeth and wait one more season to be safe.
| Figure 3 |
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The scots pine illustrated (Fig. 3) had a further seven wedges cut on different sides of the trunk so it could be compressed
into a shape like a curly pig's tail. Why? Well, it's now in the ground, and when the three-quarter-inch trunk
has expanded to two inches, it's going to be a stunning little piece!
This is a great technique - have fun!
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