Collin

Last Friday acquired a 15-gallon Zelkova Serrata from a local nursery. I wasn't planning on purchasing a new tree but it was on sale and couldn't pass up the deal. It was about 12 feet tall and I cut it down to about 18 inches so I could fit it into my car. The trunk is about 2 inches at the base. My plan for this tree is to style it into a broom style. Today I made the appropriate "V" cut to the trunk with the top of the "V" about 6 inches above the soil. I saw this technique in Naka's book as well as another bonsai book. After making the cut I used a razor to touch up the cut along the cambium and then covered the entire wound with cut paste - the dark brown, clayish kind

I'm worried the new buds won't be able to push through the cut paste. I only applied the cut past to a depth of about 1/8" at most. Will the new buds be able to push through this? Should I thin the cut paste around the cambium or take some other action to ensure the new buds can get through?

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