Appreciate suggestions/thoughts on whether I can do anything to save rotted portion of trunk

[kernt]

I have old juniper that had attractive deadwood at the trunk. I had to be away for several years, and the deadwood rotted away. Without the deadwood suggesting what once was a older tree, the remaining trunk line is pretty boring. Any suggestions? Thanks

 

[River's Edge]

I have old juniper that had attractive deadwood at the trunk. I had to be away for several years, and the deadwood rotted away. Without the deadwood suggesting what once was a older tree, the remaining trunk line is pretty boring. Any suggestions? Thanks

There are a couple of options to treat the remaining deadwood and help retain it for a longer period of time. Wood hardener such as Pentacryl or repeated Lime sulphur treatments that are maintained over time.
As far s recapturing part of the original look you may wish to consider the following.
1. Remove the bottom portion of the larger remaining section of deadwood as per the attached photo. This involves carefully removing the deadwood while retaining the live vein. Be sure to support the tree securely to prevent the live vein from taking the full weight of the remains tree. The nest step involves deciding whether to air layer off the upper portion or try bending the existing live vein while retaining existing root structure. ( not likely easy to accomplish if the live vein is substantial.)
To help explain the concept I have attached pictures of a juniper in a similar situation and what the process can look like.

 

[kernt]

There are a couple of options to treat the remaining deadwood and help retain it for a longer period of time. Wood hardener such as Pentacryl or repeated Lime sulphur treatments that are maintained over time.
As far s recapturing part of the original look you may wish to consider the following.
1. Remove the bottom portion of the larger remaining section of deadwood as per the attached photo. This involves carefully removing the deadwood while retaining the live vein. Be sure to support the tree securely to prevent the live vein from taking the full weight of the remains tree. The nest step involves deciding whether to air layer off the upper portion or try bending the existing live vein while retaining existing root structure. ( not likely easy to accomplish if the live vein is substantial.)
To help explain the concept I have attached pictures of a juniper in a similar situation and what the process can look like.

 

[kernt]

Thanks very much. I now have a plan. I would hope to stabilize the dead wood as much as possible, so shouldn't I use something other than Pentacryl (advertised as working on green wood) or lime sulfur (only soaks in a little into dead wood)? Does painting a resin such as Paraloid B72 soak deeper into the dead wood?

 

[stubmle]

Minwax wood hardener or similar may be what you're looking for; I've used it to save old dry-rotted wood on furniture before. Be warned, it can sometimes give the wood a "plasticky" appearance. Test it on a small, inconspicuous area or piece of similar scrap wood first so you can evaluate the end result.

I have not had occasion to use Pentacryl before, but if Frank is recommending I would trust him, he knows his stuff.

I've heard of people using boiled linseed oil as a preservative, but I have not tried that myself either. Sometimes it looks good, sometimes not.

If you want to bleach the deadwood further, I don't know how that would interact with a sealer/preservative that is already applied. Presumably you'd want to bleach first, then seal. I've used oxalic acid to bleach wood before but I would advise extreme caution when using it around live plants.

 

[River's Edge]

Thanks very much. I now have a plan. I would hope to stabilize the dead wood as much as possible, so shouldn't I use something other than Pentacryl (advertised as working on green wood) or lime sulfur (only soaks in a little into dead wood)? Does painting a resin such as Paraloid B72 soak deeper into the dead wood?

It may very well my advice is based on results with products I am familiar with from experience. I know what the labels say and I am comfortable with how the product worked in my situation. It was absorbed really well after I dampened the wood initially. By all means make use of the best research you can do and benefit from. The process will take time and involve lots of effort. you will want to be comfortable with your choices before proceeding.
Best of luck.