Sean,

Aesthetics aside, cut paste or the equivalent is critical for most large
deciduous wounds. The larger the wound, the more important the sealer. Fast
grow ABOVE the cut means fast healing of the wound. Slow growth ABOVE the
wound may result in poor healing, even with cut paste. I prefer the kind in the
small white jar that resembles modeling clay. It will last through several
growing seasons and peel away from the protected area as the callous closes
over. I seldom use it on conifers.

Julian Adams
Adams' Bonsai
Lynchburg, VA