peterbone
Mame
1. I performed a thread graft on a Chinese Elm last year (attached). I let the branch grow out to about a meter to ensure that it fuses well and it seems to have worked. The branch is thicker than it is at the entry point. I haven't separated it yet though. What concerns me is the swelling at the exit point. Will that ever blend with the trunk smoothly and look natural? Is there anything I can do to help it along?
2. My other question relates to what happens when the trunk thickens after a thread graft has been completed. You have a branch going through the heartwood of the trunk and is fused to the cambium layer at opposite sides. As the trunk thickens a new cambium layer forms and the branches normally move out with it. But wouldn't this put tension on the graft points since opposite sides are connected. Would the trunk then start swallowing up the new branch? I hope you understand what I mean. Perhaps this is not an issue but I'd like to understand in more detail what happens as the trunk thickens.
2. My other question relates to what happens when the trunk thickens after a thread graft has been completed. You have a branch going through the heartwood of the trunk and is fused to the cambium layer at opposite sides. As the trunk thickens a new cambium layer forms and the branches normally move out with it. But wouldn't this put tension on the graft points since opposite sides are connected. Would the trunk then start swallowing up the new branch? I hope you understand what I mean. Perhaps this is not an issue but I'd like to understand in more detail what happens as the trunk thickens.