This 8 foot Shiraz has developed a diseased limb.. The rest of it is very healthy. Do you agree I should cut along the red line indicated and wrap with cling film? And do it now? Seems to be spreading south daily
Good morning R. Yes cut it out now and apply Bordeaux mix to the wound. Also I wouldn't cover it tbh. Let the air do it's thing naturally to heal the wound. I know we don't like to cut at this time of year, but diseased branches are different matter. I've just cut out two on my Butterfly (8 days ago) that we're going the same way as your Shiraz and all is fine with just a touch of bleed.
The reason I mentioned wrapping the wound is that I thought I remembered @emery mentioning this sone time ago but if you do it you need to do it quickly..I may have dreamt it up!!
Possibly to try and stem the excess bleed, so I understand where your coming from R. Don't remember the thread from Emery, but I'm sure he will pipe in with a comment.
Never heard of the clingfilm wrapping either - if there was any bleed it would surely trap it under the clingfilm making a sticky mess? I also never use Bordeaux mix or other copper on the wounds with no apparent negative consequenses, but I know others use it religiously... IMO can be regarded as an optional step.
Piping! Heh. You didn't make it up, Rich, but it concerns a somewhat different situation: that of large area mechanical damage, from deer, squirrel, tractor accident, etc. In this type of situation, bits of live cambium persist on the stem for some hours, and by wrapping you can get them to "grow together" (or protect them so that they can) and cover the large wounded area, or enough of it so the limb can be saved. I've sadly had many cases where I've had to demonstrate the success of this technique. Can't remember where I first learned it, but the area should be infection free. In terms of wrapping, pasting, covering cut wounds with anything, I agree with you guys: nyet, néant, nada. The late Dr. Alex Shigo proved experimentally that leaving woody plants to compartmentalize and isolate wounds is the most effective way to promote overall plant health, over 50 years ago. Practices change gradually, but I believe most modern horticulture / sylviculture has come to teach this fundamental technique. Bordeaux Mix, yes! :) Sure, if the wound isn't infected, it isn't necessary. But it will help if it is.
@emery many thanks..actually I remember now the procedure was mentioned in the context of a tree I had with mechanical damage from a pesky animal!
as mentioned by the crew, definitely cut now with a clean sterilized saw / pruner. Then let mother nature take over
And when you cut a big branch, wound is long to cover, it take years. Bordeaux mix is bactericidal, it prevents deterioration of wood by bacteria, which lead to the formation of internal necroses; i mean hole inside trunc. Idem, for young graft for the cutted scion .
Probably true for large cuts (over an inch or so), but bonsai enthusiasts, and "bonsaika", bonsai pros, use cut paste, made in Japan. It's soft like plasticine, and probably contains some fungicide. When applied, the exposed cambium doesn't dry too quickly, thus healing is faster.
We had some winter damage two years ago on an old Fireglow. A main branch snapped off. I cut the large branch with a hand saw and never touched it again. Tree is doing fine and wound has recovered naturally. In all the years we have never applied anything after any major cut on old trees and younger potted specimens. I can see the application for bonsai work as @AlainK has mentioned when everything is on a micro scale
Well i never use any wound sealants i rely on mother nature and all that !! , would be there all day if i had to do it this one :):) and before any one asks it's back budding like mad at this present time, mind you it's a Seiryu and these things are tough old birds.
I never use magic creams! Ic-cold water on the face when you get up, and no wrinkles, free and efficient. Will post a photo in a few weeks' time. Or not ?... <LOL> On very healthy trees, when done at the right time, no problemo, hasta la vista baby (Terminator, French version). But it's a bit like when you get a running nose in winter : exercise, herb-tea (thyme, hyssop + lemon juice and honey -the best one is thyme honey), or inhalations (the same but without honey), and - for me and my sons, it has always worked better than any tablets, syrup, etc. But when you get the flu, or a really bad infection, it's a different matter, somtimes you have to take drastic measures...
