Do I Dare?

[j evans]

I have had this maple for years. It is about 8 - 9" tall. A number of years ago I cut a branch off and I anticipated that the cut would heal up. Instead, it has swelled. The bump of course shows on the cut side but the swollen bump shows on the opposite side. Do I dare to trim or cut the swollen part off to clean up the trunk. I would think that healing would take years. I need some opinions. That you in advance.

 

[Shibui]

Agree that cutting back the callus is unlikely to solve the problem. My experience is that it will just do the same thing, sometimes even worse than before.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Was that maple a nursery cultivar? Is it possible that you were cutting back a branch at a graft site?

 

[BartelBe]

Give it another year's time. I will nicely close and the stem will thicken up, balancing out the whole.

 

[bwaynef]

I've never done it, but I've seen it a couple times where a tree's wound is covered with aluminum tape and that helps to form the callus in a way that swelling is prevented. There've been others, but Andrea Merrigioli (who wrote an italian book (translated to english) on Japanese Maples) comes to mind.

 

[River's Edge]

Try a different cut paste and cut closer to the tuna with a lower level beneath the cambium. Use the putty type cut paste instead of the liquid green cut paste to seal. Methods to improve old scars and poor results are detailed and illustrated in merrrigiolies book as mentioned. I have found the green liquid cut paste contains too strong hormones and results in swollen callus. Michael Hagedoorn noted this as well and advised wiping the liquid cut pastes almost off to leave a thin layer for better outcomes.
just some suggestions.
I would definitely try to improve the outcome rather than wait and see if it disappears on its own.
Best of luck..