Used raffia to protect bark when wiring.

[Mike Corazzi]

I have a procumbens that I bent a big branch down.
Wrapped the branch in raffia and wired and bent.
Pretty drastic and I could hear it ...sorta... cracking as I bent it.
But not whole lot and now there is new growth coming out from between raffia wraps.

Question: Should I remove the raffia and leave it wired down as it WILL need to be held in place for a season or so.

I was just thinking that keeping raffia on could prevent the bark from continuing to weather along with the rest of the tree.

 

[Dav4]

Leave the branch alone, raffia and all, for at least a year or two, and don't worry about the bark.

 

[Adair M]

Yeah, I agree with Dav4. Juniper bark isn't one of their best features. In fact, many people including myself will scrape off the flaky bark to expose the cinnamon colored fresh bark below. Some like that and some don't. Personal preference. There is a health advantage to removing the old bark because insects like to nest and hide in the flakes. Eliminating the flaky bark reduces the insect (mites) population!

 

[Mike Corazzi]

So now the bugs can live under raffia AND bark.
Hell, they can have conventions!
The raffia bugs can build a wall to keep out the bark bugs.
And they can make the bark bugs pay for the wall!!!!

Seriously, thanks. I'll leave the raffia on.

 

[Random User]

So now the bugs can live under raffia AND bark.
Hell, they can have conventions!
The raffia bugs can build a wall to keep out the bark bugs.
And they can make the bark bugs pay for the wall!!!!

Seriously, thanks. I'll leave the raffia on.

Oh man you made me laugh!... good one

 

[choppychoppy]

I have a procumbens that I bent a big branch down.

I feel like I would have removed that large branch.

 

[Mike Corazzi]

I can't.
Peter Tea liked it.

Besides, the raffia is probably 30% of the apparent size.

I've thought about it though.