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3-Jan-2008
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#1 |
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bonsaiTALK Journeyman
Join Date: Nov-2007
Country: South Africa
Posts: 46
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Scars from hail damage
About 6 weeks ago we had a really bad hail storm with stones so large they cracked several of our windows. Sadly they also did a lot of damage to my trees. They are growing back strongly now and I have been able to remove most of the damaged leaves as well as some of the branches that cannot be saved. However, there are nasty scars on some of the trunks which are too low to remove, and in one case there is even damage to an exposed root.
Is there anything I can do to make these scars look better? Will their appearance improve in time, or are these trees ruined forever? Before you feel too sorry for me let me add that I don't have any seriously decent trees - these are all pretty much pre-bonsai, but I care about them just the same. |
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Scars from hail damage |
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3-Jan-2008
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#2 |
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bonsaiTALK Expert
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As long as they don't have open wounds that can attract pests and disease, which might require sealant, I'd not worry about it. To me that kind of scar on a bonsai, like a tree in nature, tells a story about it's difficult life. Years from now when it's a well developed bonsai you will see the scars and remember that storm.
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3-Jan-2008
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#3 |
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bonsaiTALK Journeyman
Join Date: Nov-2007
Country: South Africa
Posts: 46
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Perhaps some of the wounds should have been sealed at the time, but there was so much else that needed doing (including repairs to the house) that there really wasn't time to think about the scars then. I didn't work on most of the trees at all until new growth started developing, then slowly I started removing damaged leaves and branches. Some still need repotting as the pots were so badly damaged, but I'm slowly getting there.
I have been surprised at how well some of them recovered - a few were totally defoliated in the storm, yet in some cases there is already no remaining sign of damage. |
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4-Jan-2008
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#4 |
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bonsaiTALK Master Craftsman
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What species are we talking here Gina? I also had some complete defoliations in a storm recently but as long as your trees are healthy this shouldnt be a porblem.
By the way most of our locals species heal extremely well, including the acacias and celtis, so i wouldnt worry too much, you probably wont notice in a year or two! |
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4-Jan-2008
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#5 |
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bonsaiTALK Journeyman
Join Date: Nov-2007
Country: South Africa
Posts: 46
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I'm trying to think which plants have the worst scarring. I can't go outside to check right now as it's past midnight.
I have an avocado (yes I know that it will never make a proper bonsai) that is really badly scarred all along the trunk. There's a trident maple which has some low scarring including on an exposed root. I have a podocarpus with quite a few scars along the trunk - though some of those may be from wire, not hail. My Serissa doesn't seem to have much in the way of scarring along the trunk, but the lowest branch was cracked half way across, and though I tried to bind and seal it, I'm pretty sure that branch is dead. I haven't removed it yet and am scared of what the trunk will look like when it comes off. There is healthy growth both above and below the dead branch and I'm also going to need advice on restyling it, but I thought I'd save that for another post. As far as I can remember those are the only ones that are a real concern. If I notice anything else, I'll add it later. |
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