Deadwood features / rot on the main trunk (advice needed)

[Storm87]

Hi all,

Last spring I managed to acquire a nice hedge maple (urban) yamadori. It doing oke, it survived a pretty dry and hot summer here in the Netherlands.
The tree has some nice deadwood features on the main trunk, but also quite a deep hole.

I would really like some general advice on how to handel this type of trunk in order to keep the tree healthy, prevent it from rotting through, but also preserving the deadwood features of the tree.

I added some photos, if more are needed please do ask!

Much appreciated!

Kind regards,

Storm

 

[leatherback]

with thin "secondenlijm" you can secure old deadwood. The areas drenches with the stuff do not rot anymore. But they will also not change color etc. So best to get the wood the way you wnat it, let it age and color naturally. Then let it dry out and drench with the thin glue.

 

[Shibui]

Trunks do not usually rot through. Only the middle wood which is not active rots. The outside layers that are still living will stay solid so you can just let nature take its course and allow the middle of the trunk to rot out and create a nice hollow.

You can also protect the dead parts by using some sort of anti rot. Lime sulphur is the traditional wood preserver as it kills fungus. It does make the wood go white after treatment but some people add ink or carbon to keep the treated wood darker.
There are also some newer wood treatment. Some hardware stores sell a wood hardener. I have also heard some growers talk about the superglue mentioned by @leatherback

 

[Storm87]

Thanks for all the advice! Very helpful and reassuring. I remember the glue trick from one of Harry Harringtons YT video's.
How about the use of "Alabastine Houtrot Impregneer" Any one every tried that? I used it to repair some rotten parts of a hardwood window frames once. It works as a wood hardener, that what you mean @Shilbui?

​

 

[leatherback]

Any one every tried that?

Yup. It works.

Main challenge will al these products is that it will not go very deep into the wood and you risk the wood behind it rotting.
But as said by someone above: You will see that the tree is capable of creating a solid wall between living and dead wood, which is near impenetrable for decay.

 

[Storm87]

Yup. It works.

Main challenge will al these products is that it will not go very deep into the wood and you risk the wood behind it rotting.
But as said by someone above: You will see that the tree is capable of creating a solid wall between living and dead wood, which is near impenetrable for decay.

Good to know! Thanks again!

 

[TimberLakers]

Really interesting maple - have you decided what you'll do with the top of the tree?

 

[Storm87]

Thx! I plan to cut off the large 2 branches when the tree is in good health (so probably autumn 2021) and leave the small one for the new apex. Meanwhile I'll see if I can thread graft the sucklings emerging from the base of the tree into the lower branches.

How about that? Advice or another point of view is welcome!

 

[TimberLakers]

Thx! I plan to cut off the large 2 branches when the tree is in good health (so probably autumn 2021) and leave the small one for the new apex. Meanwhile I'll see if I can thread graft the sucklings emerging from the base of the tree into the lower branches.

How about that? Advice or another point of view is welcome!

Looking at your front as presented... I can see potential with both the two bigger branches - but very different trees resulting from that.

If you're looking to straighten out the trunk, the small one makes sense. Will be a heck of a chop in 2021!

I'm still pretty early in my maple growth experience. I'm sure you'll get some great opinions.