Acer obtusifolium

[Shay]

Hi all
I found this tree in a nursety. Got a bargain price on it and think it has potential.
This is an endemic Acer and the only one we have here. Its not deciduous so no fall colors.
It has a nice deadwood and good taper but all the rest is a mess. Ill let it grow freely now and select branches next season (if it will survive the root pruning) the bag was packed with a very very dense root ball and I reduced 3/4 of it.
Any ideas for the deadwood? I never treated deadwood before. How to approach it?
Any thoughts/comments/ideas will be welcomed.
Thanks!
Shay

 

[sorce]

Shay,

That's a nice lil number!

Looks like the callous rolled aside that deadwood a long time ago, I wouldn't work it down passed that, I'd leave it for a while. Seems that could be a good front.

Really nice material!

Sorce

 

[Shay]

Shay,

That's a nice lil number!

Looks like the callous rolled aside that deadwood a long time ago, I wouldn't work it down passed that, I'd leave it for a while. Seems that could be a good front.

Really nice material!

Sorce

I want to keep that. its wrapping that old wood nicely and there is even old bark at the bottom of the deadwood.
the problem i noticed now is there are ants in it. and maybe other insects.
how do I get rid of them without killing the tree?
thanks!
shay

 

[sorce]

I would keep them in check but not kill them.

They are part of nature's hand that create better deadwood than us!

You could submerge the tree and burn em as they crawl out!

Hopefully another opinion surfaces!

Sorce