Badly Damaged Bonsai Oak Tree Trunk

WWB-Walter

Seedling
Messages
15
Reaction score
37
Badly Damaged Oak Tree Trunk
Two oaks - one young, one rescued from demolition site 7 yrs ago (see pics)
Rescued oak was originally found in the dirt pile of a home demolition - looked dead and had lower trunk damage from bulldozer. Tree was originally about 6 ft tall and had grown through dense junipers. Over a three yr stretch, I lowered the tree to current trunk height of about a foot with current growth (spring 2020) after four years in bonsai container.
The up-facing part of the trunk is decaying (from original damage) and very pulpy - a yr ago, pruning wax was applied. This spring, the remaining bark of the upper trunk peeled off, exposing pulpy trunk as well. Fresh growth is 'fed' through bark and trunk on the 'down-facing' part of the trunk.
QUESTION
How to save and maintain this unique, rescued Oak Tree???
Suggestions, Comments would be most welcome. Thanks, WWB
 

Attachments

  • Rescued-Damaged-Oak-1.jpg
    Rescued-Damaged-Oak-1.jpg
    220.2 KB · Views: 65
  • Rescued-Damaged-Oak-2.jpg
    Rescued-Damaged-Oak-2.jpg
    188.1 KB · Views: 71
  • Rescued-Damaged-Oak-3.jpg
    Rescued-Damaged-Oak-3.jpg
    270.3 KB · Views: 71

amcoffeegirl

Masterpiece
Messages
2,772
Reaction score
4,798
Location
IOWA
USDA Zone
5b
I am not sure how to save it but I did see this today.
I thought it was a nice example.
 

WWB-Walter

Seedling
Messages
15
Reaction score
37
2019 - 1 yr ago - Twin Oaks - one with damaged trunk
Just another view of same Damaged Oak with full foliage
 

Attachments

  • Two-Oaks-Young-Old.jpg
    Two-Oaks-Young-Old.jpg
    178.9 KB · Views: 58

Crawforde

Chumono
Messages
670
Reaction score
1,197
Location
Florida
USDA Zone
9b
It looks happy, I’m not sure you need to do anything. The dead parts will rot and the live parts will get on with life.
In the future it will be able to tell the little oaks “see this, back in 2012 I tried to take on one of those loud yellow things. I was Lucky to live through that. Don’t be stupid kid”
 

Shibui

Imperial Masterpiece
Messages
7,643
Reaction score
15,426
Location
Yackandandah, Australia
USDA Zone
9?
Just carve out all the soft inner wood. It's probably too late to save it and there's no problem with hollow trunks. In fact I think that can give a bonsai some real interest.
When you have removed as much soft wood as possible treat the remainder with a wood preservative. I use lime sulphur but there's a lot of talk that Earl's Wood Hardener is good too.
Interior wood rotting does not usually harm a tree. The live outer parts will continue to grow and can prevent the rot from getting to the live parts. There are many old trees in forests around the world that are completely hollow and have lived that way for years.
 

WWB-Walter

Seedling
Messages
15
Reaction score
37
I appreciate those relevant suggestions - all makes sense. Thanks.
 
Top Bottom