AusBonsai

hi i am going to have a go it creating a broom style bonsai using a tridant maple . i understand that i need to make a v cut and bind around this area with raffa to stop this area swelling but by doing this will it not stop new branches growing from around the new cut ? also has anyone tried cutting a v then rotating the pot 45 degrees and cutting another v leaving 4 spikes in which branches can be grown. just a thought of mine .

mate, i did the V cut on this Elm, viewtopic.php?f=129&t=5600&hilit=+broom+elm ,
The thread doesn't show but i did use something(can't remember what) to wrap the top so it doesn't bulge, i only wrapped the area once i had the required new leaders in position, I found this to be very important. I would do it if i was you, good luck

thanks Craig that tree looks really good .how long do u leave the binding on the cut. until leaders have thickened what do you reckon.

The length of time you would leave the wrapping on is hard to say,depends on what you wrap with but i believe raffia breaks down ,not sure how long that takes, maybe someone else can tell us both.Once you think the graduation between trunk and the new leaders is becoming uniform/even it would be safe to leave the wrapping off...I would just say to keep an eye on the wrapped area and if the wrap gets too tight before the end of summer, take it off ,, have an inspection and if need be rewrap.

Raffia will last up to 2 years before rotting ans falling off

How long did you leave the wrapping on craig?

Ken

Ken, i think from memory, only 1 full season,
If the Raffia lasts that long then i'd say you'll need to keep an eye on it for sure,,

Elms and maples have completely different budding after cutting back the trunk. Elms shoot lots of buds from the cambuim around the cut. This is why elms are wrapped to stop thickening. Some also drill a bit out of the centre of the trunk so the new callus can bulge inward instead of outward.
Maples shoot from dormant buds on the trunk below the cut, not from around the edge of the cut so wrapping probably won't help and will probably distort the new shoots. Just cut the maple, wait for buds to shoot then cut the trunk back (at an angle, v, vs, whatever) to blend in with the new shoots when the have hardened enough.
Cutting the trunk into 2 vs, 4 points would probably give a too regular, unnatural look to the trunk. better to have some branches a little higher and one or more a little lower.