The answers are somewhat species specific Steve.

For example, with Tridents, one of the better ways to utilize sacrifice
branches is to let them go for a full season, but cut them back leaving
stubs from which the new sacrifice branches will shoot.

David J. Bockman, Fairfax, VA (USDA Hardiness Zone 7)
Bunabayashi Bonsai On The World Wide Web: http://www.bunabayashi.com
email:


-----Original Message-----
From: Internet Bonsai Club ]On Behalf
Of Steve Wolfinger
Sent: Friday, February 14, 2003 10:22 PM
To:
Subject: [IBC] sacrifice branches.. remove each season???


okay.... when working on thickening a trunk... after a trunk chop, the
leader for the new section is wired up and left to grow.
sacrifice branches
are left to grow too... to help thicken the trunk.

here's my thought and question.

Remove all the sacrifice branches each winter (leaving the leader of
course) and allow the tree to send out new shoots each season... this way
minimizing the size of the scar that has to heal. or is it more beneficial
to let the sacrifice branches grow season to season?.. (when trying to
thicken a trunk up)

does the thickness that sacrifice branches are allowed to attain have any
effect on the speed at which the trunk thickens??

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