Huge boxwood landscape score!

[Bonsaiboy]

Noticed my neighbor had cut all of the branches of an old boxwood. Asked what she planned on doing, and she said that she was going to cut it at the trunk with a saw. Long story short I was up there the next day digging it out. I managed to get a huge rootball with a lot of native soil. The trunk is far thicker than a baseball. Here it is. Anyone else getting any good spring material?

 

[Bonsaiboy]

Non sideways photos.

 

[edprocoat]

I noticed there is a lot of bark scraped along the bottom of the trunk, it looks almost as if it was being girdled to layer it. I hope its not too much and harms the tree, it seems it would slow it down some at least. Will you seal the wounds on this?

ed

 

[Bonsaiboy]

Yes, I noticed that too. I should seal it?

 

[edprocoat]

Yes, I noticed that too. I should seal it?

I am not too familiar with Boxwood, but one thing for certain is the bark is removed down to the hardwood and that interupts the flow from the roots to the leaves. It would seem sealing it would not only keep disease/fungus out but would keep it from drying out further.

ed

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Looks like it happened while collecting or when it was originally cut down. Don't seal it; you want the cambium to bridge the wound, and cut paste may interrupt that. If it didn't girdle the trunk, it should be fine.

 

[edprocoat]

Looks like it happened while collecting or when it was originally cut down. Don't seal it; you want the cambium to bridge the wound, and cut paste may interrupt that. If it didn't girdle the trunk, it should be fine.

I am glad someone who knows more about Boxwood advised you on this ! I usually seal wounds with the Tree Kote, black asphalt based sealer. It works on my Ficus, Junipers, Apples and Elms allowing the cambium to roll under the sealer bridging the wound while actually pushing the sealer off as it fills in. I did not know it was different on a Boxwood.

ed

 

[Poink88]

I am glad someone who knows more about Boxwood advised you on this ! I usually seal wounds with the Tree Kote, black asphalt based sealer. It works on my Ficus, Junipers, Apples and Elms allowing the cambium to roll under the sealer bridging the wound while actually pushing the sealer off as it fills in. I did not know it was different on a Boxwood.

ed

It isn't. I would seal it and should help it heal faster. As you said, it helps maintain moisture. I would seal all new cuts actually...not to encourage healing but to save moisture.

It is a nice tree but it only have very few leaves left...that is more my concern since they do not backbud much in my experience. Good luck with it.

Amazing how different advises are...and I feel sorry for people sometimes since it must be very confusing. Not saying mine is right (or wrong) just stating an observation.

 

[Bonsaiboy]

It isn't. I would seal it and should help it heal faster. As you said, it helps maintain moisture. I would seal all new cuts actually...not to encourage healing but to save moisture.

It is a nice tree but it only have very few leaves left...that is more my concern since they do not backbud much in my experience. Good luck with it.

Amazing how different advises are...and I feel sorry for people sometimes since it must be very confusing. Not saying mine is right (or wrong) just stating an observation.

I decided to seal the wounds. The tree is in pretty bad condition, and didn't want to take any chances with it drying out or pests.