AusBonsai

Well, I've been pretty crook this week but finally got a wander out side today. Gave the Wisteria a closer inspection, now that it's settled in, had a more forceful poke around, and found rot and borers, well can't say I wasn't warned

bodhidharma wrote:A good score C8. A couple of things..check straight away for borer as they plague this species. Cut out any rot now, you need to feel all over the tree for soft spots and clean it up. No problems with feeding them straight away.

As soon as I started sinking the metal skewer in, I remembered the above So I thought OK better late than never, it doesn't look like there's too much
but I found it's a bit like renovating, the more you find, the more you dig ... and soon the little hole gets mighty big
eventually I did strike solid wood

As I worked my up to the top, I noticed the wood was still soft, but slightly more stable, I'm guessing this is what they call dry rot?
So obviously opening it up, getting all the rot out (wet and dry?) is the way to go. Especially to get rid of these little munching so'n'sos
For now any knick in the fresh wood I've dressed with wound sealer. Next stage of the job I think the


so question time ...

#1 does all the 'soft' (including dry rot?) wood need to be removed?

#2 I've still got lot's more digging to do, but once it's gutted do I dress with Earl's wood hardener? (providing I can find some) I presume Lime Sulphur would be inappropriate?

#3 Do I need to dress with an insecterside to deal with the borers?

Any other tips?


Cheers,
Ryan

Hi Ryan I would definately remove any rotted wood but the Earls will harden up the soft stuff. Bunnings or any trade store should stock earls, or you may even be able to get it online

Thanks Angus, thought as much, just never had to buy it before

Did a bit more digging and poking around today, it seems that a lot of the areas have rotted since they were cut last year. The cut branch(es), even though they were sealed with cut paste, dies all the way back to inside the trunk, then the borers and rot set in. I even found some worms living half way up the trunk it's looking like its going to be half the tree I thought it was still it looks like some flower buds are ready to pop

That is the way with Wisterias Ryan. I seal mine with wound sealant and pva glue mixed together. (external pva) I first Lime sulphur then seal it with the mixture and Lime sulphur over the top of that. It slows the rot down but nothing, read nothing, stops them from rotting. They will just throw roots down and start somewhere else. Just enjoy it while it lasts.

Thanks for the added tips Bodhi I've noticed they like throwing shoots from the base looks like I've got quite a bit of restoration work ahead of me yet.