Zelkova trunk chop

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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tachigi

Collin,
The buds shouldn't have a problem pushing through the cut past. I say this with one caveat. Some people classify the gooey petroleum based stuff that comes in a tube as cut paste. This is not cut paste and in my opinion, it is more for grafting than anything else. It ruins the bark of a tree as it is impossible to get off and most often stains the bark. So if you use cut paste with the properties of clay then your buds should have no problem what so ever. Mine have always pushed for the sun and busted through.

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Tom

Shady Side Bonsai
Bonsai Vault
4MAAT

Otaku

I don't think you have to use cutpaste at all, trees in nature don't...

soltan

I am interested in a refresher course on cut paste!

I am still learning in the merits of cut paste, but I it has been said that cut paste of this nature in this attemp to get buds on the fresh cuts. Is possibly nesacary. I saw this method in the "other bonsai book" and I believe cut paste was used.

Very true words tachigi about what I have nicknamed the toothbrush tube cut paste. I still havn't got all mine off

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tachigi

Otaku, You are 100% correct! You don't need cut paste on a tree if you don't have any design as to where you want the tree to throw buds. If you trunk chop as Collin did and risk not using cut paste you stand a chance that the cambium will die back further that you want, throwing out buds further down the trunk. Cut paste offers a couple of advantages. One being if you have the right color it helps cosmetically. The second is that it helps seal in moisture and keeps the nasties out for the most part and gives you an advantage to having a bud pop in the general area you hope it to.

Analogy: You slice open your hand with a grafting knife. You clean it, let it be and return to work in the dirt. or You smear some neosporin on it, place a bandage over the top. Its a given both will heal. Which method would you chose? Me, I'd rather stack the odds in my favor and take the Bandaid and Neo.

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Tom

Shady Side Bonsai
Bonsai Vault
4MAAT