Wire bite - how bad is it?

[DonovanC]

I picked up this juniper last fall, it was already wired. I planned to take the wire off this spring but I never got around to it.
How bad is this bite? Is it ok to wait until next spring? How would you proceed?

 

[Paradox]

It's in pretty good on some spots. I would remove it now and rewire in a couple of months trying to wrap it in different spots

 

[Paradox]

@DonovanC
Another thing I see is that you have large guage wire overlaying smaller guage.

This can lead to issues with biting in as well. The thicker wire puts pressure on the thinner one underneath.

It's always best to start with the heavier guage first and go to lesser thickness of wire as you wire out the tree. So as needed, do trunks first then lower branches nearest the trunk which are usually the thickest and move both up the tree and out further on the branches as you go

 

[Jiminsauga]

I'll also add that when you do rewire it, rewire it in the same clockwise or cc direction as before. Because of the deeper bite groves, if you rewire it opposing the previous grooves you will sever the remaining live vain and kill that branch. ask me how I know...

As Paradox has said above, put the new wire on different areas of the branches, not back in the old grooves.

 

[ShimpakuBonsai]

I would take it off immediately because it is biting in excessively on several places and waiting till spring will make it even worse.

But you can also leave it on because some people like the character it gets from wire biting in

 

[Dav4]

I'll also add that when you do rewire it, rewire it in the same clockwise or cc direction as before. Because of the deeper bite groves, if you rewire it opposing the previous grooves you will sever the remaining live vain and kill that branch. ask me how I know...

As Paradox has said above, put the new wire on different areas of the branches, not back in the old grooves.

Actually, you should rewire in the opposite direction to the existing wire scars… Just don’t let the wire bite in to the point that it’s compromised the cambium

 

[DonovanC]

@DonovanC
Another thing I see is that you have large guage wire overlaying smaller guage.

This can lead to issues with biting in as well. The thicker wire puts pressure on the thinner one underneath.

It's always best to start with the heavier guage first and go to lesser thickness of wire as you wire out the tree. So as needed, do trunks first then lower branches nearest the trunk which are usually the thickest and move both up the tree and out further on the branches as you go

That’s a good point, the wire was actually on the tree when I purchased it. I just removed it hopefully I was gentle enough. There were places that were even worse than the parts shown in the pictures.

 

[DonovanC]

I would take it off immediately because it is biting in excessively on several places and waiting till spring will make it even worse.

But you can also leave it on because some people like the character it gets from wire biting in

I thought about leaving it on - but this is intended as a mother tree to get cuttings and air-layers a from and I didn’t want wires to interfere with any of that.

 

[Dav4]

I thought about leaving it on - but this is intended as a mother tree to get cuttings and air-layers a from and I didn’t want wires to interfere with any of that.

Those wire scars are significant now and will get worse if you were to leave untouched till spring. Getting them off now will allow a little bit of healing prior to dormancy. In a few years you’ll hardly notice them if you act now

 

[DonovanC]

Those wire scars are significant now and will get worse if you were to leave untouched till spring. Getting them off now will allow a little bit of healing prior to dormancy. In a few years you’ll hardly notice them if you act now

The wire is off now, I did it like 15 minutes ago. The bite was really deep in some spots - deeper than I thought. But it’s done - and the cambium doesn’t appear to be damaged at all.

 

[Paradox]

The wire is off now, I did it like 15 minutes ago. The bite was really deep in some spots - deeper than I thought. But it’s done - and the cambium doesn’t appear to be damaged at all.

The tree will heal the scars. Might take a while but it will happen.

 

[Vin]

I'll also add that when you do rewire it, rewire it in the same clockwise or cc direction as before. Because of the deeper bite groves, if you rewire it opposing the previous grooves you will sever the remaining live vain and kill that branch. ask me how I know...

As Paradox has said above, put the new wire on different areas of the branches, not back in the old grooves.

Now wait just a minute. Don't go making sense around here; you'll confuse everyone.

 

[Potawatomi13]

As much bite as is present branches should now be "set" in wired position and not need wired again. Scars will fill in/heal.

 

[leatherback]

Junipers are thick-barked. The damage to the bark will heal and will virtually diappear

 

[Arnold]

Some people leave the wire almost tottally eated by the branch and then jin it, it makes a cool spiraling efect within the dead wood

 

[Paradox]

Some people leave the wire almost tottally eated by the branch and then jin it, it makes a cool spiraling efect within the dead wood

Which looks totally contrived and unnatural

 

[Arnold]

Which looks totally contrived and unnatural

When its done with the live trunk yes in the deadwood it can be improved