Collected Vine Maple Clean-up?

somegeek

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I this collected this small vine maple today. The area circled in red has some soft wood in it. At this point, are there any issues with me cleaning up this area with a dremel to remove the softened wood down to the good wood and then treating it to prevent further deterioration?

Edit - I used a bamboo skewer and removed softened wood about 3" in in a cone shape in the end circled in red. I blasted this with water and got it pretty clean, however now this will hold water... should I be creating a shari/opening up the bottom side so this will not hold water? The wood surrounding this has healthy bark and is hard.

Appreciate any input.

somegeek
 

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somegeek

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Today was a good day for a picture... leaves are pushing out nicely. :)

somegeek_vine_maple_1_4.jpg


somegeek
 

Bill S

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Haven't seen it myself, but have heard that others will drill a hole straight down thru the tree to make a drain, this would get you away from having to enlarge the shari. Probally should do some of the wood hardner thing too.
 

somegeek

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Okay - looked at using Minwax Wood Hardener before. I'll pick some of that up here soon along with some lime sulfur.
 
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Wood hardener is only good on decaying wood... so if you have cleared out the punky wood... putting it on will do you no good.

I do recommend taking out the punky wood if it is not critical to your final design. And has been mentioned, you should create a drain hole. Since it appears that your trunk will be prostrate (??) just going down through the bottom of your hollow is fine.

A dremel will work fine for this process... just make sure you put a hole of sufficient size to completely drain water.

Also... don't be surprised if you have a devil of a time finding lime sulfur locally... it's being banned... so it's getting harder to get. I've bought the bottles I've run across betting it'll stay effective for some time.

Have fun!

Victrinia
 

Bill S

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Also... don't be surprised if you have a devil of a time finding lime sulfur locally... it's being banned... so it's getting harder to get. I've bought the bottles I've run across betting it'll stay effective for some time.

Have fun!

Victrinia


Whaaaaat! Where, when who, why????????????????? First I've heard of this, you pullin our legs?:)
 

somegeek

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The hollow of the trunk on the right is a little soft and has the potential to move the trunk line inwards so I wanted to harden that off to prevent further decay. I'd like to hollow the log long term... until said time however, I'd like to preserve all the current material. The tree is still establishing roots so I'd like to not work on it for a few years until I can get it secured in a training box. Though, until then, I'll drill a hole through the trunk to allow air to circulate.

Think I'll order a few 8oz bottles of lime sulfur off of EBay.

Thanks for the replies.
 
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Whaaaaat! Where, when who, why????????????????? First I've heard of this, you pullin our legs?:)

Brother... I would not pull your leg about something as distressing as losing lime sulfur. This may be a West Coast thing... which is why I mentioned it to SG... but here's a quote from a local garden person on the subject in our local newspaper the Kitsap Sun...

Lime Sulfur Update

I promised to keep readers posted as to the availability and specific whereabouts of lime sulfur (aka calcium polysulfide). There’s some news to share, and it’s confusing. Neither the Environmental Protection Agency nor the Washington State Department of Agriculture, according to representatives I talked with, has clamped down on this fungicide. The material still is legitimate.

Or is it? Linda Britt of Clear Creek Nursery read me portions of a communication the nursery had received indicating that the EPA had canceled its registration for lime sulfur. The immediate problem is that the letter doesn’t have a letterhead, indicating its source. It may be from a supplier or manufacturer’s rep. Linda is trying to track the source.

In the meantime, lime sulfur is in very short supply. Valley Nursery in Poulsbo had some, but everywhere else I called was out. Something definitely is going on with this material. When I learn more, I’ll pass it along.
- Chris Smith

Believe me... it can't hardly be found anywhere... and no one is re-ordering it.

V
 

rockm

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"Also... don't be surprised if you have a devil of a time finding lime sulfur locally... it's being banned... so it's getting harder to get. I've bought the bottles I've run across betting it'll stay effective for some time."

I haven't bought any in a very long time--but this is a very tricky subject. I don't think it's being banned. The EPA "letter's" lack of official letterhead is significant.

There might be some additional confusion because our application of this substance differs significantly from "normal" use. The National Arboretum (which is run and funded by the USDA) in DC can't use lime sulfur as a preservative for jinned trees in the bonsai collection because technically, LS is qualified to be used only as a dormant spray on foliage under USDA rules. In other words, the stuff is approved to spray on foliage, but isn't sanctioned to paint on jins as a wood preservative...

Don't know what to make of the shortage on the west coast though.
 
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Not to hi-jack this thread... but I've had four local nurseries and hardware stores tell me it's not being produced anymore - because there are enviornmentally safer products that are just as effective. I've had Sharon Muth, of Bonsai Northwest, tell me the same thing - that it's being gotten rid of.

It's alarming to say the least. I get the funniest looks when I explain why I need it, and that all their suggestions will do me no good. :(

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/fruit/msg012201213850.html This forum had a discussion about it earlier this year... the last post was the most interesting. It would be sad if that was the case.

V
 
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mcpesq817

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Not to hi-jack this thread... but I've had four local nurseries and hardware stores tell me it's not being produced anymore - because there are enviornmentally safer products that are just as effective. I've had Sharon Muth, of Bonsai Northwest, tell me the same thing - that it's being gotten rid of.

It's alarming to say the least. I get the funniest looks when I explain why I need it, and that all their suggestions will do me no good. :(

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/fruit/msg012201213850.html This forum had a discussion about it earlier this year... the last post was the most interesting. It would be sad if that was the case.

V

Do you happen to know what people are using as a replacement? I think Walter Pall came out with something, but I haven't seen it in the US yet.
 

rockm

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Vic,

I hesitated posting the stuff about the Japanese "application," but that might be playing a part in this...Like I said, though, I haven't bought any in a very long time.
 

amkhalid

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Interesting... I was trying to find lime suphur at local big box stores last month - Home Depot and Canadian Tire. I know that they both used to have it. 6 locations later, I couldn't find it. One employee suggested it might have been put on the 'new chemical ban list that went into effect over the winter' but wasn't really sure.

Anyway, went to a mom and pop nursery like I should have in the first place, and found some :)
 

somegeek

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When I paint the main trunk deadwood with lime sulfur, what concentrate should I use? Full strength out of the bottle? Also, will this harm the growing tissue if I accidentally get the full strength lime sulfur on it?
 

somegeek

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I applied lime sulfur to the deadwood. I plan to dig out the rotted stuff later this year when it's had a chance to dry out some and will further apply the lime sulfur. For now it's peace of mind and the contrast is pretty.

somegeek_vine_maple_1_5.jpg


somegeek
 
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