Bending a thick Juniper trunk

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I have a tall juniper procumbens that has a straight portion of its trunk that I would like to add some movement. It is about 3/4in thick and stays straight for approx 6in. What would be the best method of bending it? Best time of year to do it? Should bark be protected?

I've done very little with junipers, so please enlighten me.

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bonsaial1

3/4 inch thick is pretty thick to be bending at this stage. Some have had good results with very hot,(almost boiling) water poured over rags wrapped around the area you wish to bend. After a few minutes of pouring the hot water over the bend area, it softens the resins in the trunk and becomes almost pliable and bending can be done with out much harm. It will hold the new shape as it cools, or can be quenched. This works well with junipers like yours maybe where there is not much branches or foliage in the way of the hot water which would have to poured with care around such things.

The water is poured with the plant elevated and turned sideways so the water goes on the ground not in the pot scalding the roots. No brainer I know, but you never know!

Another method is to take a thick iron bar and tie it securely at the bottom of the trunk with protection on the trunk and heavy copper wire. Then at the place where you want a bend, place a block of wood about two inches thick with some notches in it to hold onto the iron bar and trunk. Again use protection at the trunk. Then above where the iron bar will be slanting away from the tree, place a small block of wood with a groove cut in it to hold onto the trunk. Use protection here also. Use a C-clamp on the upper block and the iron bar and begin cranking on the clamp. You will be amazed at how much pressure you can put on the trunk. It will bend and it will do it slowly which is good. Bend as far as you think the trunk will take and let it rest for a month. Come back and crank some more till you think you have an interesting bend. Let it grow undisturbed for a year and the bend should hold.

You will have to repeat this for other bends unless you have more iron bars and more wood blocks in which case you could also do a bend the other way. This might be too much stress on the trunk and could lose sap flow and kill a tree. Sometimes this is what has to be done to get a poor tree better.

Have fun, Al

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