AusBonsai

I have been trained in the old school, I am comfortable using raffia to wrap branches before heavy bending.
Bicycle inner tube is also a material I am familiar with.

Today I got my hands on some vetrap.

How does it compare?

Hi Gerard,
I have used vet wrap, but usually over the bike tube. Those two products together give the ability to really turn, twist or bend branches and trunks. I like them both and think they work OK. A lot quicker and easier to apply than raffia, and does a superior job IMO.

What about standard electrical tape? Wrap the tree in the tape with the sticky side up, then wrap again with the sticky side down, this way it doesnt leave any residue on the bark.

The other thing I have recently found, and will be using shortly is a rubber strip from "Clarks Rubber" it has a little bit of stretch to it, comes in various widths ( I will be getting the 1 inch wide) and is about 2mm thick. I think it would be great for larger trunks and branches.

Not sure if Clarks rubber is a national company, but I'm sure you could find a similar product elsewhere.

I have used vetwrap and it's pretty good. The material is a breathable substance and has a fair bit of stretch in it. Could you do far worse in my opinion. I think it's better than raffia in that raffia is obviously nowhere near as wide and can fuse more easily to the bark which means that when it comes time to peeling it off you can have difficulties. This has been my experience.

I have tried Vet wrap, but when removing it after a good long time it can be difficult to remove from the bark without damaging it. I find Raffia easier to remove.

Plus I think raffia looks better in the tree.

Bike tube would be a better choice for me.

Ken

I have used Vet Wrap do not like it for the same reason as Ken, used over inner tube might be better.

I have also used inner tube by it self not bad, and also raffia, first time I used this was in a workshop with Hiro, he said if you are not sweating it is not tight enough!!.

What I have found Superior, but it is hard to source, is furniture webbing it is easy to use and is recyclable. also it allows water in so it helps like sphagnum if there is a crack.


Cheers Pup