Hi MattA , slight correction .The purchased tree only produced 7 layers over 2 seasons .This tree was layered with spagnum moss 2 years ago using coke bottles cut down and duct tape to seal the bottles . The tape actually touched the bark to aid the seal and a white fungus accumulated around each layer . They were severed early in an attempt to save what i could and of course no roots on all but 1 layer . Nine layers were set only 3 survived , the 1 with the roots died also , i believe the gum on the $2 shop duct tape may very well have contributed to the fungul growth .
This seasons layers were set with 50 % spagnum moss and 50% scoria and open 200mm pots
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were used on the Ebay tree
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and 120mm pots on the garden tree
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. The layers were set after the first leaves were hardened off {early Spring} both this tree and the garden specimen used were set the same apart from the top smaller layers which were set with 80% scoria and 20% spagnum moss , another personal "test/trial .For some unknown reason the slaters and millipedes made homes in the top layers but not in the 50/50 mixes on either tree's .They may have eaten the new roots ? .
I have , since removal inspected the garden tree and noted the bores have basically ring-barked the upper section ,although the bark is still green the 3 smaller layers look rather dead in the pics . These smaller layers also had the majority of seed attached .it could be a combination of all 3 slaters , borers and too much fruit ? This garden tree was the last of the tree's planted by me when i purchased the house . All the other were used as bonsai chop tops as the borers moved from tree to tree ,i have previously posted them here as 4 Red Heads
.Again for some reason only Japanese maples are attacked by this borer and i'm still unable to eradicate it .Shibui has checked them out and concluded that while the treatment worked on the grub they possibly had eggs deep inside the tree that were not effected by the spray/ treatment .
Now as for the trunks well the Ebay trunk is sun-burnt and the garden tree is full of borers and at 200mm plus both trunks its a big ask to use a bloody dremel on , out with the Stihl and cut loose i say
. then trim it gently with the angle grinder with blade attached , then i might just be inclined to use the dremel to add some finer detail .
When naked and full of features "borers and burn" i will post both the trunks up for a critique or two , might just attach a layered trunk to the chosen design .Cheers Alpine
Oooops i'm off to the shed to sharpen the saw . Just for the record the "mamed style" finger is 46 years old and doesn't require any trimming
